Residents to sue landlord

The Province
Published: Tuesday, October 30, 2007

VANCOUVER - A class-action demand for compensation will be filed against a Vancouver landlord after his tenants were evacuated from their building, said David Eby, spokesman for the Pivot Legal Society yesterday.

"It's going to be a significant amount and we think [landlord Pal Sahota] is good for it."

Earlier this month, tenants of the three-storey apartment in the 2100-block Pandora Street -- owned by the Sahota family of Shaughnessy -- called city inspectors when the ceiling started to leak.

The 50 residents, mostly aboriginal women with kids, were given a few hours' notice to vacate the building. B.C. Housing and the City of Vancouver have found temporary accommodation for the tenants. Those on welfare have their rental accommodation covered by B.C. Housing. Funding for those not on welfare will end Saturday.

Eby said he expects at least 40 tenants to join the claim.

Sahota has already agreed to return the tenants' damage deposits and October rent.

Sahota, whose family owns a string of hotels with low-income housing, could not be reached yesterday for comment. -- Staff Reporter

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