As new rental units are poised to become a reality in Squamish, housing for some residents is being taken away.
Eighth Avenue Development Group Ltd. was recently granted a development permit by District of Squamish council to create a new 67-rental-unit building at the site of the inn.
As a result, tenants in the building will have to move out by March 31, and the building will be demolished.
One tenant living in the Budget Inn alleges he was improperly served a notice to end tenancy, as he was given notice before the landlord had a demolition permit in hand.
The Ministry of Housing would not comment on the specific case, but said landlords need permits prior to giving notice to end a tenancy.
“We still have our rights, right? And they jumped the gun on this,” said Daniel King, who’s been living at the inn since December 2018.
King showed The Chief a notice to end tenancy that was issued to him dated Nov, 19, 2019.
District of Squamish records indicate that the demolition permit was picked up and paid for on Dec. 24, 2019. A municipal spokesperson reconfirmed the Dec. 24 date.
Karen McDonald, a partner at Eighth Avenue, says they had the demolition permit in hand on Dec. 3. With regard to the discrepancy between the company’s permit records and the District’s records, she said that sometimes items can get registered at different times.
However, that would still mean Eighth Avenue issued a notice ahead of acquiring the permit.
“We gave notice as soon as we knew [the demolition permit] was going to clear, which is what you do if you’re considerate,” said McDonald.
“You give your tenants as much time as you can give them, not as little time as you can give them.”
She said the people who live there are aware and signed agreements that it was a temporary situation.
“The intention in acquiring the property was always to create a market rental building in downtown Squamish,” she said.
In October 2018, Western Investor reported the Budget Inn was sold for $4.5 million.
“On an interim basis, we converted it from a nightly motel to offering accommodations on a monthly basis,” said McDonald. “There have been a variety of tenants who have agreed that it was interim. We have accommodated those people with consideration.”
King said his original lease was six months, but then became month-to-month. He says he pays $750 a month.
“Regardless of whether we signed anything or not doesn’t really matter, because their obligation by law is to give us four months notice, and they can’t give notice until they have permits in hand. They did not have permits in hand,” he said.
King said with the difficult housing situation in Squamish, it will be a challenge to find a place to live.
“You got to look at the rental situation in Squamish...there’s nothing available,” he said. “I’m going to be living outside in a tent. And you can’t even really do that now.”
He was referring to anti-camping bylaws that were passed last year, which drew widespread criticism from those who feared it would inadvertently ban vanlife and impact homeless people.
