10 Bowman St. N-12

I was the tenant for nearly three years in Unit #1, one of four units in a low-rise apartment (10 Bowman St., Toronto). I received an e-mail on March 31st at 9:10pm from the landlord informing me that an N-12 noticed had been issued, and that the original was in the common mailbox. I received a second e-mail at 10:05pm the same day instructing me to dis-regard the first notice, implying that it had included a date that was invalid.

A physical N-12 notice was present in the front hall when I checked on April 2nd. Setting aside the matter of the e-mails indicating a date change, the physical notice appeared to be valid, and set a termination date of 2019-05-31. I was subsequently informed that an LTB hearing had been scheduled for early June.

At this point I reflected that the landlord had previously (2018-03-27) issued an N-12 for personal use to the then-tenants in Unit 3 ('Tenants A'), and that this eviction order was upheld by the LTB (hearing held week of 2018-04-28). This was despite the landlord already occupying Unit 2, following e-mails he had sent the previous year (April, 2017) informing the previous tenant of #3 (Tenant B) (and, presumably, #2 also (Tenant C), though I do not have written confirmation) of his desire to move in, causing both tenants B&C to vacate in summer 2017 without---to my knowledge---serving an N-12. I would be pleased to provide documentary evidence of each of these claims to future tenants of 10 Bowman should they find themselves facing an N-12.

However, in light of the very poor record for tenants in my situation at the LTB hearing (e.g. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-evicted-how-landlords-are-forcing-tenants-out/), I chose to find alternate accommodations, and informed the landlord (via an N9 notice, served April 18th) that, in light of his apparent N-12, of my intention to end my tenancy effective April 30th.

The landlord did subsequently refund my rent deposit, and also paid compensation in the amount of one month's rent indicated on the N-12. As a result, neither party attended the scheduled LTB hearing, so the (now irrelevant) application for eviction was denied.

However, I wish to emphasize the growing pattern of informal notices of 'personal use' as well as revolving N-12 evictions to future tenants at 10 Bowman St., Toronto.