Rats, mould and ice: Quebec man alleges landlord keeps despicable conditions

Marc Laurin. (Noovo Info)

Marc Laurin says he is furious that nothing has been done to ameliorate what he calls abhorrent living conditions in an apartment building in Saint-Jérôme, in Quebec’s Laurentians region.

In an interview with Noovo Info, Laurin explains that he lived on the streets for several weeks with his dog because he struggled to find a home willing to accommodate them both.

Last August, he says he thought himself lucky when he found a 3 ½ apartment willing to sign him and his dog on as tenants for $1,200 a month.

However, Laurin says that once he moved in, a fellow tenant warned him to expect hefty bills from Hydro-Quebec to heat his new home.

He alleges that he soon realized that the apartments had mould, water leaks, holes in the floor, pest problems and more.

“Water is leaking everywhere, air is coming in, everything is freezing,” said Laurin, claiming that the sub-zero temperatures inside are resulting in, as his neighbour warned, $600 Hydro-Quebec bills.

He laments that he has also already caught nine rats inside his apartment and found squirrels in the rusting roof.

Laurin says he turned to the Administrative Housing Tribunal (TAL) in the hopes of forcing his landlord to carry out repairs.

The TAL has yet to render its decision.

“I’m at the end of my rope. I can’t take it anymore,” said Laurin, adding that he already has plans to move within the month.

In investigating the building via the TAL’s documents, Noovo Info found out that 26 tenants have lived in the building since 2011.

Despite proceedings and various complaints about alleged unsanitary conditions, many were still ordered to pay their rent.

The landlord did not respond to Noovo Info’s request for comment.