Their house is threatened by incorrect evaluations

Photo Camille Garnier
François Grenier and his wife France Lauzon claim to have lost all social life and have to take painkillers until the battle that they are leading to their home the fatigue.

Camille Garnier

Saturday, 10 February, 2018 01:00

UPDATE
Saturday, 10 February, 2018 01:00

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Of the victims of the floods in the spring of last year fear they may lose their house in front of the department’s evaluation, which includes the reconstruction of stairs that have never existed.

“We have no more lives, loose-François Grenier in a sigh of exhaustion. We take pills to take the shot and the doctor told us that we were both at the edge of a nervous breakdown. “

Since their home located in Pointe-Calumet, in Laurentides, has been flooded in April last, Mr. Grenier and his wife France Lauzon are engaged in an administrative battle with the department of public Safety, which has already cost a part of their health.

Photo Camille Garnier

The couple’s home located in Pointe-Calumet.

In September, after several months of waiting, the couple receives a first assessment of the damage suffered by their house, which belongs to the family Attic since the 1970s.

Errors

“This assessment does not have good sense, annoys François Grenier. It speaks to me of a staircase in my basement. But there has never been any stairs in there and the inspectors have not even visited. “

The report also mentioned a painting for $ 6,500 for cover barely a third of the walls of the house and replacing a bath… even if they have never had a bath. The reclamation works are valued at approximately $ 80,000, a little more than 100% of the value of the house according to the ministry of public Security (MSP).

However, beyond 50 %, the department does not allow reconstruction, and compensates owners to relocate elsewhere.

A private valuation done at the request of Mr. Grenier displays a very different result, since it judges the value of his home at 180 000 $, more than double the figure provided by the MSP.

Retirement

In November, Mr. Grenier eventually receive a second evaluation, but it contains only a minor correction, and displays a result close to that of the first.

Meanwhile, Mr. Grenier has made by two private companies for independent reviews to get additional opinions.

Where the department number jobs at $ 80,000 or more, two private entrepreneurs felt that their amount was around 35 000 $ only.

“I don’t want to bother anyone. If they give me a little more than 30 000 $ to make these work I will put the rest out of my pocket, argues François Grenier. I don’t want to leave my house, it is here that we want to spend our retirement with my wife. “

Yesterday, a representative of the ministry have promised to Mr. Grenier a third assessment in the coming weeks.

“It is difficult to pronounce, we are often caught between the tree and the bark,” says Marc Jossart, assistant director of municipal services in Pointe-Calumet. The Municipality cannot tell the MSP what is the direction he must take. “

Mr. Jossart indicates that approximately five homes, disaster victims in Pointe-Calumet are still engaged in battles with the ministry.

► Contacted by the Newspaper, The ministry said it could not comment on individual cases.