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PAGE 4, WHITBY FREE PRteSSWEiàNESAY, JULY 4, 1M9 Seniors form committee to"fight rent hke Custom Upholstery Refinishing In Business For 30 Years Modemn & Antique Choose fron hundreds of quality fabrics! Appraisals - 655-8739 r By Mike Kowaloki Tenants of two Whitby seniors' apartTnent buildings8 hi t with rent increases of 16.36 per cent are fightingback. The "Regency Senicrs Fairness Committee» was formed last week by tenants living at 15 Regency Cres. and 225 Hickory St. in' downtown Whitby. Thae committee was formed in response te the recent rent in- crease imposed on tenants by the owner of tbe two buildings, the Goldwin Group of Downsview. Goldwin was granted the in- crease earlier this year to belp offset financial lasses suffered by the company when it purchased the buildings in 1987. The increase includes an upfront figure of 11.38 per cent, plus an additional 4.98 per cent in back rent te have been paid by last Saturday. Arrears average between $300 te $600 but some tenants bave been told they must pay more than $1,000 in back rent. Committee member Mary Thorpsonsaid representatives of the Duham Legal Clinc spoke te residents last week. According to Thompson, lawyer Karen Baylis-Smith of the legal clinic advised tenants not to pay the increase or arrears until the matter could be furtber investigated. «We're going te wait and see wbat sbe (Baylis-Smith) says,» said Thompson. "There's not much else we can do until then.» (Bay*is-Smith was not avail- able or comment on the situa- tion.) Thompson said that during the meeting someone suaggested the landiord be invited ta meet with tenants. However, Thompson doubted that someone fromn Goldwin would attend such a meeting. «We baven't heard from the owners yet, I don't tbink they'd corne,» said Thompson. Tenants interviewed pre- viously by The Free Press were especially upset that a large por- tion of the increase is te caver the owners' financial losses. Provincial rent review legisla- tion allows landiords te recover from tenants" rents, any losses incurred when purcbasing an apartment building The six-year-iolid buildings were purcbased by Goldwin from a group of Whitby businessmen. Galdwin was granted a rent increase for this year plus back rent, termed a «phase in," effec- tive Nov. 1, 1989. The order covers 248 units in the two build- *n le rents vary, $625 for a one-bedroom is not unusual. There are also 37 units set aside for people receiving some formi of governiment assistance. Most are handicapped. Durham Centre MPP Allan Furlong had not yet seen the rent increase order so hie prefer- red not te comment on the mat- ter directly. «It could be a combination of things, I don't know the details Of it, said Furlong. However Furlong agreed that if financiaài loss was the sole reason for granting the increase, it is «unfair» to expect tenants tu carry the burden. «It's quite unreasonable if a erson buys a building knowing he will lose money,» said Fur- "fthe only reason rent bas gone Up 15 because of a loss of investment, that's unfair to take.» Furlong promised that if rent increases are being rated -in the Wihitby area solelyon these grounds, he would bring the pro- blem te the attention of the housingminister. Although residents plan ta fight the increase, they may have littie chance of winning a reduc- tion. Tenants Ji a 28-unit aparf- ment building at 507 Dundas St. E., have twice been in a similiar situation during the past six years. The building bas twice cbanged bands in that time and in bath cases, residents were foroed te absorb the owner's lasses. In December 1984, the build- SEE PAGE 12 Emerald 9. point A Rare Rentai Opportunity In A Luxurjous Lifestyle For 1990 HWY. 401 & BROOK ROAD (Minutes from Pickering Town Centre) 1 Bedroom & Den, 1,009 sq. ft. & up 2 Bedroom Suites, 1,074 sq. ft. & up IN-SUITS FEATURIES. including: *5 appliances, including in-suite laundry facilities *Solarium *Wallto wall quality broadloom * ndividually eontrolled heating/air conditioning LIFESTYLE AMNIIS, mdludingp " Indoor pool, whirlpool sauna, squash " Resident and visitors parking " Guest suites " Card access entry system " Easy access to Go transit " Party room MODEL SUITES NOW OPEN JFOR APPOINTMENT CALL: 686-6860 OR 229-9800 EXT 844 RENTAL CENTRE HOUIRS: Monday ta Friday - 12 noon to 9 pm Saturday and Sunday - 10 arn to 6 pm troEast Hwy 2 LovetionCeitre - * Pickering Parkways Hwy 401 1/ - ~ ~f.rj.p*>.> 4~ : P>st ~ *1 ~. ~> i~ y * .~ p K ', OP 0F WESTNEY 0 ~2 West ney Rd. North, Town of Ajax inutes ta GO Train & Pickering Town Centre 22NOW RENTING 2e&33 Bedroom units & Penthouse Suites FFROM $995/month FEATURES INCLUDE: -5 appliances including ensute, Iaundry facilities .WalltotawaII carpeting Individually controlled heating and air conditioning -Outdoor pool - Whirlpool, saunas and exercise room FOR APPOINTMENT 428-7162 ASK ABOUT OUR ATTRACTIVE MOVE-IN BONUS rý M"