Vancouver renter says he was evicted without notice
Posted August 18, 2019 2:15 pm.
Last Updated August 18, 2019 7:33 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — In a situation that would upset any renter, Mark Elyas says he came home Thursday to find his belongings being boxed up by a court bailiff and movers.
“I was shocked,” he says. “This was a complete surprise.”
Elyas says he never received any written notice from his landlord before the eviction happened. Earlier in the week, Elyas says his landlord did tell him verbally he would be getting kicked of his downtown Vancouver apartment, but refused to provide written documentation.
“I was very unhappy, very depressed about it, very angry at the same time. There’s a lot of bad feelings that I have because of this,” he says. “This has really taken a toll of me both physically and emotionally, big time.”
He says he made arrangements to pay rent late, something he says the landlord told him was fine. He says he was all caught up, but was told verbally Monday he was being kicked out, but they wouldn’t give him a copy of any notice. Then they put his stuff outside. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/rewa6sEH6t
— Lauren Boothby (@laurby) August 18, 2019
Elyas says he was stunned by the eviction since he had made arrangements with the landlord to pay his rent late.
“She was making payment arrangements with me, and agreeing to them, and taking my money, and telling me everything was going to be cool as long as I keep the arrangement,” he says. “It felt like she played a dirty trick on me.”
He’s upset he didn’t initially have the chance to defend himself before the eviction.
“We live in Canada, you know, you have the right to be able to speak your peace to the judge,” he says. “I never got those opportunities.”
A judge has overturned the eviction and he has been let back in. For now, he is still working with the Residential Tenancy Branch to make sure his tenancy is safe.
NEWS 1130 has reached out to the landlord for comment.
