Retirement home residents take wait-and-see approach

Mississauga property had issued deadline of July 31, but tenancy can only be terminated by province's Landlord and Tenant Board

- KENYON WALLACE

When Margaret Omielczenko received her eviction notice from Chartwell, owner of her Mississauga retirement home, panic set in.

She felt even worse after meeting with the relocation team appointed by Chartwell. They told her that because she was not considered a "triple-A" renter, one of the options she should consider was moving to a women's shelter, she said.

"I was very upset," said Omielczenko, 65, adding that she felt the suggestion was "insulting" and "demeaning" Omielczenko is one of the 205 residents of Heritage Glen Retirement Residence, at Glen Erin Drive and Battleford Road in Mississauga, who were told by the company in March that they were being evicted as of July 31 because the two-building property was being sold and would cease to operate as a retirement home.

The residence is being purchased by real estate giant Minto, which plans to redevelop the property into residential rental units for all ages.

This means the current residents have to find somewhere else to live.

Many are paying below-market rents and can't afford to pay the much higher rates now charged by similar residences, especially if they are on a fixed income. And some are refusing to budge: Retirement home residents, it turns out, are tenants just like any other and under the law their tenancy can only be terminated by the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Chartwell says it has already helped more than 165 Heritage Glen tenants find alternative accommodations, part of an assistance package that also covers the cost of moving and compensation in the amount of three months' rent.