FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec 29,2010
HOLLYBURN PROPERTIES FORCES COUPLE TO CANCEL HONEYMOON OVER RENOVATIONS, THEN RENEGES ON PROMISES
VANCOUVER BC – Newlyweds Steve and Daniela Correia are at the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) today seeking justice after Hollyburn Properties Limited (Hollyburn) forced them to cancel their honeymoon to complete renovations in their rental suite, then reneged on doing the work. Hollyburn even threatened to evict the newlyweds when they complained about the unfinished repairs.
In 2010, Steve and Daniela moved into a renovated unit at Emerald Terrace, located at 2045 Nelson Street. They were shocked to discover that many tenants have been subjected to numerous unnecessary and illegal eviction tactics the tenants believe Hollyburn employs in order to jack up rents since buying the building three years ago. Former evictees include cancer patient Lynn Stevens, 82, who has lived in the building for 42 years and 10 pet owners, including many seniors, who successfully disputed Hollyburn eviction notices at the RTB in January 2009.
After experiencing a host of problems in their poorly renovated and unfinished suite, the Correias made an agreement with Hollyburn to change suites within the building. Hollyburn was adamant that the moving date must be August 15, despite being informed the couple were going away on their honeymoon during this time. The Correias canceled their honeymoon to accommodate Hollyburn’s schedule, only to find that when they moved to their new suite on August 15, they once again found their new unit had shoddy and unfinished renovations.
“We are not asking for anything special, we are paying for a renovated unit and we just want Hollyburn to complete the maintenance and renovations they promised under our rental agreement” says Steve Correia. “Hollyburn has done everything they can to avoid living up to their obligations, including fabricating charges of suite damage and threatening us with eviction.” The dispute with Hollyburn has taken a significant toll on the couple emotionally. “Hollyburn’s treatment has left us with many sleepless nights” says Daniela Correia. “We are always on edge, wondering what Hollyburn will try next. Instead of finishing the repairs we requested, we were threatened with an eviction notice.”
“We have been renters all over the world and never have we been treated so badly by our landlord, who claims to be customer service oriented” says Steve Correia. “How does a company like this keep an A+ Better Business Bureau rating while so flagrantly disregarding residential tenancy laws?”
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