Wendy McKay doesn’t know where to turn for help. The 62-year-old has lived on Lakecrest Drive in Dartmouth for four years, but says the last two have been a nightmare.
Why? Because McKay has been fighting with the company who owns her apartment, MetCap Living, to have a major mould problem in her apartment fixed.
“The mould developed after they were trying to do something with the windows and they never finished the windows,” McKay told Global News.
“They just left it and I was after them a lot of times, they [said they’d] have a contractor come in, five or six times, maybe seven, and they never did. I’ve been hounding them and hounding them and hounding them and nothing, there’s been nothing.”
The problem has gotten so bad that McKay says her lungs are being affected and she now relies on a puffer. Home Care will also no longer come to her apartment to help her clean because it’s gotten so dirty.
On top of the mould issues, McKay says her ceiling is damaged because of a water leak in the apartment above her. She also can’t use the electrical outlet in her bedroom because it’s a fire hazard.
Recently, McKay says the mould has spread to her furnishings, forcing her to throw out her bed and a lot of personal items.
“I’ve had someone come in and help me pack up what is good and throw out what’s bad. It’s a lot of hassle,” she said.
McKay has asked to be transferred to a vacant apartment in the same building, but was denied unless she can cover the price difference.
Despite both apartments having two bedrooms, McKay says she only pays $600/month for rent. The neighbouring apartment is $789/month. With a fixed income of just $900/month, McKay says she simply can’t afford to move next door.
“That’s like a $200 jump,” she said. “I can’t do it. I don’t get enough to pay for that.”
The Tenancy Board of Nova Scotia says some landlords do choose to move tenants while repairs are being done, but they aren’t required to do so.
They also say the responsibility is on the tenant to bring evidence of any issues they are having with their landlord to the board.
“Landlords are required under the act to basically make sure their units are habitable. So they’re required to comply with any laws or statues around housing standards and health safety those types of things,” said Dean Johnston, director of residential tenancies.
McKay says she doesn’t want to pursue legal action over the mould infestation, all she wants is to live in a clean apartment.
Global News reached out to MetCap for a comment, but requests for an interview were not returned.
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