Surrey man facing eviction after installing air conditioner without permission

SURREY (NEWS 1130) — Despite sweltering temperatures across B.C., renters may want to think twice before installing an air conditioning unit without their landlords approval, after one Surrey man was handed an eviction notice for doing just that.

Cole Lussier, who currently pays $700 a month for a basement suite, moved in right before the pandemic started in February, 2020, and says he can’t handle the heat because he has a condition that makes him heavily perspire.

“I don’t know how I would be able to really manage without it. When these really, really hot days come, it becomes very, very unbearable to stay in any sort of room that is at a very high temperature,” Lussier says.

Lussier’s landlord told him to remove the air conditioner. When it was not taken down, he was handed an eviction notice and ordered to move out with only 30 days notice, even though he’s willing to cover increased electricity costs.

“The thing is I actually did offer her compensation between $10 to $30 a month and obviously, if it costs more, I would absolutely be willing to pay more,” he says. “I told her that on two separate occasions and both times were completely ignored.”

Lussier says now that his landlord has twice rejected an offer to help cover rising electricity costs, he’s not giving up.

“I filed for dispute resolution. I also filed for a notice for her to follow the actual Residential Tenancy Act.”

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According to the B.C. Ministry of Housing, disagreements between landlords and tenants can often relate to utility use, and therefore it encourage landlords make clear what services and utilities are included as part of the rent in tenancy agreements.

Although declining NEWS 1130’s request for an interview, the landlord, whose name is being protected at Lussier’s request, says her BC Hydro bill has more than doubled to almost $700 since the winter, and the ongoing COVID-19-related rent freeze keeps her from charging more rent.

The eviction notice accuses Lussier of “significantly” disturbing other occupants of the house.