Tenants at Hamilton apartment see few repairs in face of another rent increase

The tenants of a downtown Hamilton apartment building are facing a second above-guideline rent increase in a matter of years.

The company says it’s necessary to keep up with much-needed repairs, but renters there say they aren’t seeing many of those fixes.

Many of the tenants that spoke with CHCH News say they’re not able to afford another rent increase, as many live on disability payments, or are low-income seniors.

“I don’t want to put it lightly, because it’s falling into shambles,” said Alex Feran, who has lived at 180 Bold St. for eight years.

Feran says ever since the building brought in new managers a few years ago, the apartment is in desperate need of repairs.

“Cracks have started to form on the supports under my balcony,” said Feran. “The wall on my balcony has been cracking and large amounts of stucco have been falling off.”

Feran says the company finally agreed to make repairs Thursday, when CHCH News arrived at the property, after four years of asking.

Feran currently pays $1,200 a month for his unit, but that’s not the only issue.

Tenants say they’ve complained about people breaking in, sleeping in the hallways, and setting at least five fires around the side of the building, which have been caught on a tenant’s security video.

“If we at least had security, it would be kept cleaner — they wouldn’t be allowed to be here to harass the other tenants,” said Patricia McGowan, whose mother lives in the building.

Greenwin Corp., who manages the building, said they’re working on repairs.

In a statement to CHCH News they said, “Given the age of the residential complex, we are investing significant resources into critical infrastructure upgrades. Senior management remains actively engaged in supporting residents, and we are committed to the long-term care and maintenance of the property.”

In a legal filing, Greenwin Corp. said it has completed $1.3 million in repairs between 2021 and 2023, on items like elevator modernization, replacing the heating, and updating its security system.

In order to finance the repairs, Greenwin Corp. has gone to the Landlord and Tenant Board for permission to raise the rent above the provincial guideline — also called an AGI — for a second time in as many years.

The most that the rent can be increased by, in this case, is 4.36 per cent — though the final amount is still to be determined by the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The landlord is also looking for that increase to be retroactive to August of 2023, on top of regular rent increases.

The apartment at 180 Bold St. is rent controlled, which means the rent can only increase by a set government amount.

In 2026, that’s 2.1 per cent.

WATCH MORE: More tenants upset with living conditions of Hamilton apartment building

Despite the rent increases, tenants at 180 Bold St. told CHCH News that they’re not seeing the repairs that were promised.

Kathy McGowan has lived in the building for 22 years and currently pays just shy of $1,000 a month in rent.

Her daughter says she’s trying to find her a new place.

“She’s on an old age pension — she’s 70 years of age,” said McGowan. “There’s no way, if they hit her with the next AGI, that she’ll be able to stay.”

“No, I can’t afford it,” said Kathy.

“And look at the price of rent today, where is she supposed to go?” asked McGowan.

Tenants were also given an above-guideline increase last year of 1.34 per cent.

That increase was also made retroactive to October of 2021, leaving tenants to pay several hundreds of dollars, as a lump sum, to the landlord by December of this year.

The tenants are getting legal help, and will meet with the landlord for a case management hearing on Oct. 21, to see if they can reach a deal.

If they can’t agree, the process moves to a hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board to determine how much of an above-guideline increase the tenants will have to pay.

READ MORE: Toronto tenants, landlord reach agreement after lengthy rent dispute, eviction threat