Tenants fight eviction from Halifax apartment building

Floyd Poulain’s battle with his landlord over an eviction notice has shed light on the controversial practice of renovictions in Nova Scotia. Poulain, a 74-year-old resident of a one-bedroom apartment in Fairview, Halifax, found himself in a precarious situation when his landlord, Neyaz Saberi, issued him an eviction notice.

Initially, Saberi claimed that Poulain was being evicted to accommodate his brother-in-law or due to alleged bad behavior. However, it soon became apparent that the real motive behind the eviction was to carry out renovations in Poulain’s unit. Despite the legal requirement for landlords to provide three months’ notice and compensation equal to three months’ rent for renovictions, Saberi failed to adhere to these guidelines.

Poulain, with the assistance of legal aid adviser Sydnee Blum, contested the eviction through residential tenancies. The process revealed that the eviction notice was invalid, as Saberi had not followed the proper procedures. Despite this ruling, Saberi proceeded with clearing out Poulain’s possessions and initiating renovations in his apartment.

The disruptive nature of the renovations forced Poulain to spend more time away from his home, eventually leading to the landlord unlawfully removing his belongings. Poulain suffered significant losses, including furniture, personal items, and cherished photos, which he stated would be challenging to replace.

Currently residing in a temporary arrangement, Poulain plans to seek damages for the losses incurred during the eviction process. Meanwhile, Blum continues to support other tenants in the building who are facing similar eviction orders from Saberi.

As Saberi lists newly renovated units for rent at nearly double the price of Poulain’s former rent, concerns about the prevalence of renovictions in the province persist. Blum emphasizes the need for an enforcement unit for residential tenancies to protect tenants like Poulain who are caught in unjust eviction situations.

The case of Floyd Poulain serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by tenants in Nova Scotia and the importance of upholding tenant rights in the face of renovictions.