An Entire Toronto Building Finally Beat Their 'Renoviction' After Months Of Fighting

A hard-fought battle has ended in victory for a group of Toronto tenants who rallied together after receiving eviction notices last month.

According to Parkdale Organize, a neighbourhood group that fights displacement, rent increases and disrepair, residents of 12 Lansdowne Avenue in Parkdale received confirmation last week that their landlords had withdrawn their N13 eviction notices.

The tenants first received eviction notices from their landlords' in January citing "extensive renovations to their rental units."

The residents were also served N5 and N6 eviction notices for "illegal acts" after hanging banners from their balconies in protest, according to Parkdale Organize.

According to the Toronto Star, the landlords, Evan Johnsen and Neil Spiegel, are the directors of 795 College Inc. Parkdale Organize claims that Johnsen has a "history" of "pushing tenants out" of their homes for renovations.

The Star reports that 795 College Inc. was fined twice in 2019 for a total of $135,000 after failing to allow tenants to move back in after renovations.

The tenants alleged that the landlords were attempting to partner with a non-profit organization to raise rents on vacant units after clearing out the building, according to Parkdale Organize. It said tenants contacted the non-profit and "backed them down from working with Johnsen and Spiegel."

"Despite the landlords' attempts to single tenants out and to pick them off one by one, tenants remained united. Our neighbours at 12 Lansdowne know that organizing is what enables them to defend their homes," the group said.

Narcity reached out to Spiegel for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.