The Editor,
Re. “Crackdown in Coquitlam on illegal suites” (The Tri-City News, Sept. 16).
In the article on illegal suites in Coquitlam, it should be recognized that Stephanie James, the city’s acting director of legal and bylaw enforcement, makes much mention of bylaws and legal requirements for suites in basements and particularly in duplexes. She does not, however, mention the name of a single tenant who might be evicted from said suites in which they are apparently quite happy with the conditions and rent payments. She should stop in and get to know them personally.
They could be evicted at a time when rental space is hard to find. There is little if any consideration given to the tenants or landlords. I own a duplex in which the (illegal) tenants were quite happy until the bylaws required them to move.
Here is an example of how the eviction of tenants works when you get to know them: I gave the one tenant who was going through personal hardship the sum of $3,000 to help her get into new accommodation. Part of that sum was the rent that she owed from the previous two months. I had grounds to evict her but the Rental Tenancy Branch regulations (they all love their regulations) makes that nearly impossible. Of course, the bylaws enforcement officer was not concerned about this beyond following the bylaws. I was threatened with fines if they didn’t move out in time.
The city should recognize that this is about people and not just poorly thought out and poorly administered bylaws.
Al Harms, Coquitlam
