I'm not sure if I mentioned it or not, but I'm moving
I have lived in this apartment building since September 1996. A few years ago I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment when they did a complete building renovation. I've been wanting to move for the last 10 years or so, but one thing or another has stood in my way; money and/or health, and moving is such a big job, not to mention expensive (damage deposit, first and last months rent, movers, utility transfers etc.), that it just seemed easier to keep resigning my lease.
I have cats, initially just one, then 2, and from 1998 until this past April, three. I've never hid my cats. All the caretakers have known about my cats. The building manager (the same one here today) from the rental agency has known about my cats from day one. I've always crossed off "no pets allowed" from my lease, initialed it and submitted it. I've always gotten back a copy of my signed lease. The building manager is the same one today as when I moved in, and she's even called me while I was an inpatient in a hospital to give me an update on my cats. About 4 years ago I noticed that they seemed to have removed the "no pets allowed" from the lease renewal that I sign each year.
So colour me surprised when on September 12th, I get a letter slid under my door titled "Notice to Evict" by October 31, 2016. The reason? It was brought to their attention that I am harbouring a cat, and the smell is in the hallway.
I am meticulous about the litter boxes. I can't stand the smell of used kitty litter, because it smells like a dead body (no kidding, it really does). I scoop daily or every other day. And if I'm not able to take the garbage out immediately, I double bag using the thick Glad freezer bags to contain any litter smell.
The litter boxes are in a bedroom down the hall about 30 feet from the apartment door, and the window in that room is open about 3 inches, all year long in order to provide fresh air. So for the smell to enter into the common hallway, it would have to leave the bedroom, drift down the hallway into my living room and finally out the apartment door into the hallway.
When I enter the apartment I don't smell cat litter. When people come over or delivery people show up and see my cats, they are surprised that I have cats and I've even received comments about how I must keep the litter boxes really clean because there is no smell. Even my neighbour across the hall when I told him about the eviction notice was surprised and told me that he never hears my cats and has never smelled any cat litter smell coming from my apartment. And I know it wasn't him that made a complaint, if there ever really was a complaint; because he loves my cats and has watched them when I was in the hospital or away.
I called the agency and told them that they have known about my cats from day one, and that I have looked back on the last 4 lease renewals that I signed and no where on it does it say that pets aren't allowed.
Four days after receiving the notice, they sent me another letter rescinding it, saying that it was issued in error. Since they provided me an eviction notice in writing, I asked for a letter rescinding it in writing. I faxed them several times over the next week requesting a letter.
Then on September 26th, 2 weeks from the date of the first eviction notice, I get another eviction notice saying that they rescinded the notice in error and that they were unaware that my building had a "no pets policy" in place. And they said if I got rid of my cats they would rescind the notice, or I had until October 31st to move out. I chose to move out.
I have health issues and depression, and spend a great deal of time at home. On occasion my depression has led to suicidal thoughts, and the only thing that has kept me grounded was the fact that my cats needed me to get up everyday to look after them. And they've been a God send to me and my mental and emotional health. Even if they spend 20 hours sleeping in another room, it's nice to know that there is another living, breathing being here with me.
I found a larger, newer, and nicer apartment that allows up to 2 pets (dogs and cats only). They are added to your lease and each has a $200 pet deposit. The apartment has in-suite laundry and a balcony, and a much larger kitchen with more drawers and cupboards.... and a double sink.
It's a lot of work and I've had to have my sister-in-law come help me pack one day, and I hired someone from Kijiji to do some cleaning, but when it's all done, I'll be a happy camper.
I'm in so much pain right now though. All the packing and moving of boxes is so hard on my back and hip. Once I'm moved though, I can unpack at my leisure.
I'm packing up my electronics tomorrow, and I won't have cable/phone until Friday, so I will be off the internet for a few days. Looking forward to the break actually, lol
I have lived in this apartment building since September 1996. A few years ago I moved into a 2 bedroom apartment when they did a complete building renovation. I've been wanting to move for the last 10 years or so, but one thing or another has stood in my way; money and/or health, and moving is such a big job, not to mention expensive (damage deposit, first and last months rent, movers, utility transfers etc.), that it just seemed easier to keep resigning my lease.
I have cats, initially just one, then 2, and from 1998 until this past April, three. I've never hid my cats. All the caretakers have known about my cats. The building manager (the same one here today) from the rental agency has known about my cats from day one. I've always crossed off "no pets allowed" from my lease, initialed it and submitted it. I've always gotten back a copy of my signed lease. The building manager is the same one today as when I moved in, and she's even called me while I was an inpatient in a hospital to give me an update on my cats. About 4 years ago I noticed that they seemed to have removed the "no pets allowed" from the lease renewal that I sign each year.
So colour me surprised when on September 12th, I get a letter slid under my door titled "Notice to Evict" by October 31, 2016. The reason? It was brought to their attention that I am harbouring a cat, and the smell is in the hallway.
I am meticulous about the litter boxes. I can't stand the smell of used kitty litter, because it smells like a dead body (no kidding, it really does). I scoop daily or every other day. And if I'm not able to take the garbage out immediately, I double bag using the thick Glad freezer bags to contain any litter smell.
The litter boxes are in a bedroom down the hall about 30 feet from the apartment door, and the window in that room is open about 3 inches, all year long in order to provide fresh air. So for the smell to enter into the common hallway, it would have to leave the bedroom, drift down the hallway into my living room and finally out the apartment door into the hallway.
When I enter the apartment I don't smell cat litter. When people come over or delivery people show up and see my cats, they are surprised that I have cats and I've even received comments about how I must keep the litter boxes really clean because there is no smell. Even my neighbour across the hall when I told him about the eviction notice was surprised and told me that he never hears my cats and has never smelled any cat litter smell coming from my apartment. And I know it wasn't him that made a complaint, if there ever really was a complaint; because he loves my cats and has watched them when I was in the hospital or away.
I called the agency and told them that they have known about my cats from day one, and that I have looked back on the last 4 lease renewals that I signed and no where on it does it say that pets aren't allowed.
Four days after receiving the notice, they sent me another letter rescinding it, saying that it was issued in error. Since they provided me an eviction notice in writing, I asked for a letter rescinding it in writing. I faxed them several times over the next week requesting a letter.
Then on September 26th, 2 weeks from the date of the first eviction notice, I get another eviction notice saying that they rescinded the notice in error and that they were unaware that my building had a "no pets policy" in place. And they said if I got rid of my cats they would rescind the notice, or I had until October 31st to move out. I chose to move out.
I have health issues and depression, and spend a great deal of time at home. On occasion my depression has led to suicidal thoughts, and the only thing that has kept me grounded was the fact that my cats needed me to get up everyday to look after them. And they've been a God send to me and my mental and emotional health. Even if they spend 20 hours sleeping in another room, it's nice to know that there is another living, breathing being here with me.
I found a larger, newer, and nicer apartment that allows up to 2 pets (dogs and cats only). They are added to your lease and each has a $200 pet deposit. The apartment has in-suite laundry and a balcony, and a much larger kitchen with more drawers and cupboards.... and a double sink.
It's a lot of work and I've had to have my sister-in-law come help me pack one day, and I hired someone from Kijiji to do some cleaning, but when it's all done, I'll be a happy camper.
I'm in so much pain right now though. All the packing and moving of boxes is so hard on my back and hip. Once I'm moved though, I can unpack at my leisure.
I'm packing up my electronics tomorrow, and I won't have cable/phone until Friday, so I will be off the internet for a few days. Looking forward to the break actually, lol