Two elderly residents living in apartment buildings owned by the same property management company in Verdun, Montreal have shared their experiences of being trapped in their homes for an extended period due to elevator construction delays. Harald Osberg, 86, and Stan Schwartz, 81, both faced difficulties accessing essential services and community support due to the prolonged construction work.
Osberg, a Nuns’ Island resident with severe osteoarthritis, found himself confined to his fourth-floor apartment for eight weeks before eventually having to relocate to a temporary, unfurnished unit nearby. Similarly, Schwartz, who lives with spinal stenosis, endured a 23-week period without elevator access in his building. Both seniors faced challenges in receiving timely updates and support from their landlord, Structures Métropolitaines, and its parent company, Boardwalk Inc.
According to Boardwalk Regional Director Pierre-Olivier Lauzon, the elevator constructions were part of a larger modernization project aimed at upgrading aging infrastructure. Despite the completion of the repairs, concerns have been raised by advocates like Steven Laperrière from RAPLIQ regarding the lack of proper accommodations for disabled tenants during the construction period.
Laperrière emphasized the critical importance of functioning elevators for the safety and well-being of tenants, especially those with mobility issues. He highlighted the need for landlords to provide suitable alternative housing options at their expense when elevators are out of service for an extended duration, citing potential violations of tenants’ rights.
Both Osberg and Schwartz faced various challenges during their time without elevator access, from limited mobility to feelings of isolation. While Osberg’s case is being reviewed by the Tribunal administratif du logement, Schwartz is preparing to file a formal complaint with community support.
