(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Shelter dilemma

Landlords and shelters expected to feel impact after eviction ban lifted

Aug 5, 2020 | 5:05 PM

As of Tuesday, landlords in Saskatchewan were once again given the ability to take action against tenants, some of which have not been paying rent amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT) is now accepting eviction applications from landlords. Since the end of March, the ORT hasn’t accepted applications for evictions, unless for violence or damage to property.

Cameron Chaquette is the executive officer for the Saskatchewan Landlords Association. He told paNOW the association is pleased to see the eviction ban lifted.

“It’s been a trying few months when we have heard from tenants who have funds and who deliberately chose not to pay rent throughout the pandemic,” he said.

While the landlords now have the green light to file the application, the ultimate decision whether there are grounds for eviction lies with a hearing officer. And at the end of the day if there is not sufficient evidence to prove the eviction is warranted, the appeal is dismissed.

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Chaquette explained the association is not advocating for mass evictions.

“What we are recommending to our members and landlords across the province is that only evictions be pursued for those tenants who deliberately withheld rent, and who haven’t communicated with us, and have not signed a payment plan or deferral agreement,” he said, adding landlords simply want what’s fair.

Meanwhile, Donna Brooks, CEO of Prince Albert YWCA, said she expects to see a rise in numbers at the shelter as a result of the eviction ban being lifted.

“During COVID, a lot of people lost their income. Yes there was CERB (Canada Emergency Response Benefit) but it was lower than what some people were getting previous,” she said.

Brooks explained she was not entirely sure if the eviction ban last March was the right decision, and suggested a better option may have some form of government-funded safety net to assist landlords.

“The landlords still have to get paid,” she said. “I do understand both sides.”

Brooks confirmed the YWCA is applying for extra funding, both for the homeward bound program, as well as for the shelter which in its own right is already facing capacity challenges due to social distancing protocols. Brooks said as a whole, CERB caused a lot of problems.

“Sometimes people applied for CERB that didn’t understand the implications of applying for CERB if they were on social assistance and then they cut off social assistance,” she said.

Applications to the ORT office will need to be submitted by email or mail. No in-person service is going to be offered at this time.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell