Wolseley block landlord expects boiler fixed by Friday; tenant skeptical after three chilly weeks

Tenants of a Wolseley apartment building that hasn’t had a functioning boiler heating system for three weeks, including an extreme cold snap, are hoping the end of the ordeal is in sight.

Thorwin Properties told the province’s Residential Tenancies Branch that repair work  at 875 Westminster Ave. is expected to be completed by Friday.

While a formal order hasn’t been issued, the RTB is prepared to take “enforcement action” if the landlord “ceases to co-operate” in addressing the repairs, a Manitoba government spokesperson said Monday.

“At this point, I don’t believe it will actually be done (before Friday),” said tenant Raina Enns, who filed complaints with the RTB and the City of Winnipeg. “It’s just a waiting game right now.”

Enns said the boiler outage continued after earlier updates indicated repairs were close to being completed at the eight-unit building.

Thorwin officials did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Thorwin gave space heaters to residents and two commercial tenants — Organic Planet Worker Co-op and Prairie Sky Books — after the boiler was turned off Jan. 4 for tests and repairs.

Tenants said temporary power outages, as recently as Monday morning, left them without heat at times during an extreme cold snap that lasted through the weekend. The temperature in Enns’ apartment dipped to 12 C during one of the outages.

An email from Thorwin told tenants to use only one heater and to not use multiple high-power appliances, such as televisions and hair appliances, at the same time to avoid overloading the building’s electrical system.

Enns, who is feeling stressed, decided to leave with her pet cat and dog, and temporarily stay in a hotel room.

A city bylaw enforcement officer visited Enns’ suite Monday to assess the indoor temperature. The average of readings taken in three rooms was within the city’s requirements, Enns said.

Rental properties must maintain a temperature of at least 21 C during the day (7 a.m. to 11 p.m.) and at least 18 C overnight (11 p.m. to 7 a.m., according to the neighbourhood livability bylaw.

Enns is hoping the situation leads to changes within provincial and city regulations to hold landlords more accountable and better protect tenants when a building’s heating system fails and isn’t repaired until weeks later.

Some tenants told the Free Press they want their rent to be reduced for the month of January, and they want to be compensated for increased electricity usage.

“I shouldn’t have to pay (rent) if I can’t live there in a safe way,” Enns said. Thorwin sent emails to tenants Monday afternoon to let them know that a one-time $500 “hydro recovery credit” was applied to rent ledgers.

The city, meanwhile, will continue to monitor the situation until a heating system is installed and in good working condition, said spokesman Adam Campbell.

Tenants at a conjoined building at 641 and 645 Westminster Ave., also owned by Thorwin, previously told the Free Press the block’s heating system was out from Boxing Day until Jan. 17. They were given space heaters to use in the interim.

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca