House infested with fungi : the long conflict with the Régie du logement

Shanny Hallé

Friday, 2 march 2018, 18:05

UPDATE
Friday, 2 march, 2018 18:07

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SAINT-DENIS-DE-BRAMPTON | The family of Jean-François Fortin-Gadoury, in the eastern Townships, was believed to have found the house of his dreams to raise her four children.

She signed a lease, but a few months later, she discovers the fungi, mold, and humidity is extremely high than normal.

“For the past 2 and a half years, we are living a hell if we can say. A hell of family, staff, the hell of the couple, just because the housing authority hangs on to little details,” explained Jean-François Fortin-Gadoury, in an interview with TVA News.

The residence has been flooded in 2013. Despite the renovation work, the fungi and mold appeared in the basement of the house in 2015.

Their clothes, their furniture, have all been contaminated and thrown out. The family has left the house of Saint-Denis-de-Brompton, and has signed a notice of abandonment to unsanitary conditions.

Two and a half years have passed since the beginning of the proceedings with the Régie du logement.

The file drags on. The next hearing will take place in 2020 or 2021.

“Since day one, we want to be heard by the Régie du logement. There, we find ourselves in 2018, and we get to say you have another two to three years to wait before to be heard for your cause, so in 2020, 2021. This is stupid. When our case will be heard in 2021, is she going to be rejected? Is it that the owner will be gone?”, regrets Mr. Fortin-Gadoury.

The housing authority argues that each case is unique and sometimes complex. The processing time may vary.

Nearly 500 applications are pending since more than 2 years.

The father of the family demands $ 60,000 in damages and interest.

The owner did not respond to our calls.