Hamilton homebuyers struggle as tenants refuse to vacate property

In July, a homebuyer in east Hamilton said she may have nowhere to live because the tenants who live in the home are refusing to leave. Those tenants still remain in the house and they say they intend to stay.

The homebuyers say they’re frustrated. Their offer was accepted in April, with a closing date of May 8. There’s been a couple of extensions since then – pushing the closing date to September 15, and they don’t want to wait any longer.

A sign, and trailer — these are two ways Lorrie Mckibbon and her husband are sending a message to the tenants living in the home they’re buying, that they want them gone.

“We tried to put our trailer, the five wheel behind me, into the driveway, to show him that we have no place to live as of Saturday, we are coming to move here,” said Lorrie.

Lorrie and her husband say they had plans to live in the trailer in the driveway until the tenants left, because they sold their previous home earlier this year.

But they say they’re changing their plans, alleging the tenant blocked their trailer with a car.

“When we asked him to move his car, he came out, he moved it alright, right into the back of my trailer,” said Lorrie.

“I think we’ve come to the conclusion right now, seeing how fast he acted on putting his car up against the trailer, to live here would be fine, but my husband goes to work during the day and I’d be here by myself, and seeing his attitude today. No.”

The current owner of the house says the tenants haven’t paid rent for seven months, and he gave the couple permission to park their trailer in the driveway — saying he wants the tenants out as well.

The tenants who live on the property say that they’re actively looking for another place, but they so far haven’t been able to find anything that is in their price range, so for now, they intend to stay.

The tenants made no mention of an incident in the driveway.

The tenants also tell CHCH News they have been renters at the home for seven years and pay upwards of $1,300 per month.

“We’ve gave him his 60 day notice to move out, and that’s all done by law, and they wont do it, they know the tribunal is behind, so he can stay here as long as he wants without paying any rent,” said Don Mckibbon.

Don says applications to vacate have been filed with the landlord and tenant board, and that they’ve been told a hearing is likely to be scheduled sometime in five months.

“I’m going to keep the pressure on, I don’t care,” said Don. “It’s not fair to anybody.”

Premier Doug Ford and the province’s housing minister were asked about the delays at the landlord tenant board Friday.

They say they are working on speeding up the process by hiring more staff.

As for the tenants, they say they’re consulting with the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic on the matter, which offers legal advice.

CHCH News contacted the legal clinic, they say based on the information tenants provided, they likely have a legal right to stay inside the home until a hearing.