Côte Saint-Luc tenants currently living without adequate heating and hot water

Residents of an apartment building in Côte Saint-Luc are expressing frustration over living without proper heating and hot water during the winter months.

Oswaldo Bentti, who lives in the apartment with his two young children, described the situation as a nightmare, particularly when caring for them in these harsh conditions. "The cold at night has affected a lot of my day-to-day," Bentti said.

Bentti is one of nearly 10 residents speaking out about the issue at the building. Having lived there for seven years, he mentioned that the property changed ownership about two years ago, and since then, the new owner has been difficult to deal with. "They don't care if we complain. So, this is the reality right now and since they bought the building," he added.

The building's owner, The Mercer Group, declined to comment on the matter.

Bentti's neighbor, Yann Chabane, expressed similar frustration. "We can do nothing, and we are paying for this amount – for the conditions that we have in the lease. We feel very stressed," Chabane said. The situation is particularly worrying for him as he has a two-year-old daughter and is expecting a newborn in the coming weeks. "Meanwhile, we are suffering, and there are elderly people, pregnant women, and children. Even if it's not that, we are humans, and we are paying for a service that we are not getting," he added.

Tenants have pointed out that heating and hot water are supposed to be included in their leases. Additionally, under the housing by-laws of the city of Montreal, building owners are required to maintain a minimum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius in all living spaces. However, according to Chabane, this has not been the case. "We spent at least one week in December without heating and or hot water," he explained.

Bentti, Chabane, and the other tenants have now taken their grievances to Quebec's housing tribunal in an effort to address the issue.