Residents of a Guelph apartment building are caught in a state of uncertainty as the deadline for mandatory evacuations for renovations has long passed. Tenants at 8 Brant Ave were initially given notice that they had to vacate by November 30 for extensive renovations planned to last six to nine months. Now, many are left in a suspenseful “waiting mode,” according to Daniel Kaufmann, one of the remaining tenants.

As summer transitioned to fall, the corporate landlord, Brant Apts Inc., communicated intentions to terminate leases, while two additional buildings in the complex were given a deadline of December 30 to vacate. Despite being offered financial incentives—such as cheques amounting to three months' rent slipped under their doors—many residents remain skeptical about the promise of return once renovations are completed.

The situation has become increasingly tense as residents try to decipher the landlord's next move. With the deadline for filing applications to the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) approaching, Kaufmann noted that as of his last check, no such applications had been filled regarding their building, casting further doubts on their future. “I called the LTB, and there has not been anything filed against our building yet. We’re not sure what’s going on,” he stated.

Interestingly, notices have been recently posted, suggesting that the duration of the renovations has been shortened to just three months, from November 1 to January 31. However, residents have observed a pause in activity on-site, leading to increased anxiety about the possibility of losing their homes permanently.

Despite feeling slightly more at ease now compared to the initial chaos, Kaufmann and fellow tenant Kerry Litchy have taken proactive measures by installing cameras in their units, anticipating any unexpected visits post deadline. “We were expecting they might come back and check for people that haven’t left after November 30,” Kaufmann explained.

Adding to the frustration, Kaufmann raised a question that many tenants have echoed: “If there are empty units in the building, why can’t we just move into those for the duration of construction?”

The landlord, Michael Klein, has gained notoriety as Ontario’s leading “renovictor,” as highlighted by tenant advocacy group ACORN. After months of attempts to reach Klein for comment, a recent interview with Village Media revealed Klein’s stance on the accusations against him. “There’s no such thing as renoviction," Klein declared, emphasizing that his actions remain within legal guidelines and denying any misuse of maintenance issues to evict tenants.

In stark contrast, Kaufmann argues that their requests for maintenance have consistently been ignored. “Not a single maintenance request has been responded to by Brant Apts Inc.,