North York building residents rallying against rent increase over 5%

Tenants of a North York apartment building are rallying against the company that manages the building, Sterling Karamar, over a proposed 5.25 per cent rent increase on the building with less than two months’ notice.

Those who live at 3575 Bathurst Street received notice on Nov. 25 that the increase would happen on Jan. 1, and many are concerned it could price them out of their homes.

“It’s too much money … for the people in this building, low to middle income, they can’t afford this increase. This is the difference between lack of shelter and homelessness, not being able to eat all kinds of things.” said one tenant, Tiffany Gerris.

Ontario currently has a recommended 2.5 per cent annual increase for 2023.

Anything above that must be approved by the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board. Tenants must also receive notice of a rent increase within 90 days.

More than a dozen residents gathered outside the head office of Sterling Karamar to deliver a collective letter last Thursday and confront the property management company, demanding the Above Guideline Increase (AGI) in rent be withdrawn.

During the delivery of the letter, tenants say they were forced to wait outside in the cold and rain for close to 40 minutes before someone came and spoke to them.

A video provided to CityNews during the encounter shows residents asking to go inside and saying, “You don’t think it’s ridiculous to have to stand out in the rain.” To which an executive from the company replied, “What’s appropriate is calling and making an appointment.”

The letter being delivered was signed by the majority of those living in the building and also raised the issue of the lack of notice.

“The tenant board has a law saying you have to give 90 days’ notice of a rent increase, and they did not do so. They give about 35 days. So, of course, that’s in violation,” said Gerris.

CityNews went to Sterling Karamar offices to speak with Associate Vice President of Residential Operations Kevin Maven, the executive the tenants encountered outside during their visit on Dec. 15.

“They provided me with a document, and I took it from them, and I got it in the hands of the appropriate people. We’re formulating a response, and we said we would get back to them, and we will,” said Maven.

He said the letter is in the hands of people involved in being responsible for those decisions. “Which is not me,” added Maven.

“We expect to get back to them as soon as it’s available to us. We will get it back to the group of people that were here talking to us,” he said.

Following the discussion with Kevin Maven, a spokesperson for Sterling Karamar, Danny Roth, sent an email to CityNews saying, “A response to the letter we received is being prepared and will be shared with residents of 3575 Bathurst by the requested deadline of December 22.”