Landlord faced legal obstacles in evicting tenants who kept livestock in house

November 30th, 2016  |  Home

A Kingston landlord’s struggle with tenants who kept livestock in the house he was renting has shed some light on the systemic flaws that exist when it comes to obtaining an eviction order.

It took almost seven months from the time Simon Andrew filed for an eviction order with Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board until it got approved this past September. Meanwhile, the family of three had been playing host to a variety of livestock creatures such as goats, rabbits, chickens, quails, cats, and dogs.

Upon the eviction, the house was left in attrocious shape. Garbage was strewn across the floors everywhere. Hay and animal waste could be found in several areas. Andrew estimates that it will cost approximately $30,000 to make the necessary repairs to the property.

This case is certainly an indicator that changes should be made to ensure that landlords who have clear evidence that their tenants are wilfully destroying rented property should be evicted far more quickly than the seven months it took Andrew. However, it’s also a sobering reminder of how crucial landlord insurance can be. Without it, landlords can face steep costs when disasters like this one occur.