Landlord calls for crackdown on nuisance properties
Penticton needs more bylaw officers and stiffer penalties for landlords who don’t play by the rules, says the owner of an apartment building next to a notorious house on Winnipeg Street.
Matt Taylor told council Tuesday he has exhausted all options to deal with the nuisances that arise from the rental home at 377 Winnipeg St.
Those nuisances include noise, activity at all hours, suspected drug deals and other criminal activity and threats against his tenants.
“It’s inexcusable, unacceptable. You wouldn’t put up with it if it was anywhere on your block,” he said.
Taylor praised both city bylaw officers and the RCMP for doing what they can to clean up the property, but said responses from both agencies have failed to have the desired effect, so it’s up to council to provide a bigger hammer.
“What we need, from my perspective, is significantly greater investment in resources available to bylaw enforcement,” he said.
“And the penalties that you assess to landowners, I think that’s where the other responsibility lies.”
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit thanked Taylor for his presentation, and said council would discuss the resourcing issue at budget time.
City manager Peter Weeber said bylaw officers are working with the RCMP “and every other agency” available in regard to complaints about 377 Winnipeg St., but noted peoples’ rights have to be respected.
“We can’t just shut people down on their own private property. Everybody has rights. It’s not a dictatorship. We can’t just roll in there,” said Weeber.
“Yeah, it’s frustrating, and believe me we’re just as frustrated because we get calls every day on these topics, and council gets the same calls.”
Property owner Malvinder Randhawa told The Herald on Wednesday his tenants have worked hard to clean up 377 Winnipeg St., and keep it in compliance with local bylaws.
“Those poor guys are just trying to have a life there,” he said.
As for illegal activity on the site, Randhawa claimed he’s been present for police checks that turned up nothing. He believes he’s being unfairly targeted because he’s renting the home to people on the margins of society, who would otherwise be on the street, due to the community’s miniscule vacancy rate.
“That’s all I’m doing is helping these guys out,” said Randhawa.
City development services director Anthony Haddad told The Herald in September tht bylaws department had received eight complaints about the property through the first eight months of the year.
RCMP Supt. Ted De Jager at the time said his detachment had fielded a similar number of calls, which resulted in little evidence of nefarious activity, save for two stolen bikes.
“All in all, while we continue to work with the city to clean up this area, the criminality is less prevalent than the unsightliness and perception by the neighbours that it is a den of major crime,” said De Jager.
“While I understand (neighbours’) concerns, I cannot emphasise enough how important it is to call us as incidents are unfolding so that we can respond and develop a better picture of what is happening.”