Submitted by "Bob" on 10/18/2008

The issue has since gone to arbitration, and I nullified the eviction easily due to the landlord's obvious and repeated dishonesty. Note: the arbitrator seemed reluctant to point to the infestation source, even where it was plain, so not "taking sides" on that point may be unwritten policy.

Who knows what a set of con artists like the owner & manager might try next, so I gave notice anyways for the next month. Enough time 100% sure to debug (literally) key items of my property, but most is going into storage in sealed bags for a year or so.

The owner tries to keep his identity and involvement from tenants, hiding behind the ESL lady who manages the property. The man is a coward. He clearly believes that his tenant's right to the safety of their property counts for nothing, and has no respect for his tenants as people, just as checkbooks. Even now, he keeps the infestations a secret from them.

Submitted by "Bob" on 08/30/2008

Aug 29, 2008

I had a previous posting on here, that I asked to be removed because the landlady appeared to be acting in good faith. I was taken in - she's a liar.

Discovered the bugs 2 days ago, in my bed frame. Informed the landlady right away. Then bagged all clothes etc, threw out mattress, and landlady said she'd get an exterminator. I ask her if anyone else in the building has had them - she says "oh no, no one".

Asks where I might have got it, I say I don't really know, maybe transit, I had a friend I saw 2 months ago (first time in 6 months) who told me he had just had them killed off at his place.

Next day, the exterminator arrives while I'm out on an errand (no actual notice!), and I can't go inside for 4 hours. I have a flight to visit family for 2 weeks that evening - she knows this. I talk to the exterminator, he says the problem had been there *at least* 3-4 months (each generation is 6 weeks), and could have been picked up on transit, anywhere in Van, the city has a problem.

Then, 2 hours before my flight the landlady serves a 30 day eviction notice and demands I pay for the exterminator, because "you brought these bugs". Seems she was manipulating me all along to the last moment before I left. Refuses to give me the name of the building owner.

I meet the tenant across the hall outside. He had them 5 months ago! Did she know I ask? Yes she did! She kept it quiet - I had wondered why she was vacuuming the hall so much.

The landlords involved are dishonest, manipulative, and irresponsible. I believe they are not only covering this up, but possibly using it as an excuse to drive people out so they can increase the rents. Do not rent at this building.

Submitted by "soon to be an ex tenant" on 08/26/2008

Found bed bugs in my apartment, looks like a recent infestation. I noticed some suspiciously exterminator-like activity a couple of months ago, and didn't think much of it at the time. Lately the landlady seems obsessed with vacuuming the hallways, and I wondered why. It'd have been nice if they just told us.