Selkirk Avenue renter’s heat, electricity restored after 20 days

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This article was published 30/10/2023 (1025 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

After 20 days without electricity or heat, a Selkirk Avenue resident had power restored Monday afternoon.

Ashley Asham raised the alarm late last week about the power being out at her rented apartment since Oct. 10, despite outdoor temperatures dropping below zero. The multi-unit building at 367 Selkirk Ave. had hydro turned back on Monday. The only explanation officials provided for the near-three-week outage was that Manitoba Hydro had required repairs at the property.

The Free Press asked the Residential Tenancies Branch and Manitoba Hydro why it took so long for power to be restored and about their duties to urgently restore power when there is a lack of heat in winter weather.

“As this is a private matter between the customer and Manitoba Hydro, I cannot comment further,” a spokesman for the Crown corporation stated.

“The RTB is aware of this issue, but it involved repairs that Manitoba Hydro had required of the landlord. Questions about the status of repairs and the restoration of power should be made to the landlord or Manitoba Hydro, but we understand the power is back on now,” a provincial government spokesperson stated.

“During the period when the landlord had been ordered to make repairs, tenants would be expected to continue to pay rent, as a failure to do so could result in the landlord terminating the tenancy and evicting the tenant for non-payment of rent. If the tenant suffered a financial loss during the time they did not have heat and/or electricity, the tenant could file a claim. More information can be found online through the RTB’s website: https://www.manitoba.ca/cca/rtb/tenant/claims.html,” the provincial government spokesperson stated.

Asham said she was up to date on rent payments. There were other tenants in the building. Manitoba legislation sets out minimum-temperature requirements landlords must follow to ensure tenants are warm enough.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca