Masters v Hartsford Properties

Landlord wins · Russell · 2025-10-15

Adjudicator

Paula West Oreskovich

Dispute

Above-Guideline Rent Increase, Maintenance, Tenant Rights

Landlord

Hartsford Properties, B.B.

Tenant

N.M., D.C., H.S., M.S., K.G., M.R., P.W., P.V., M.V., R.B., I.S.

Landlord rep

Brandon Bradley

Tenant rep

Debbie Lloyd

What happened

A group of eleven tenants filed multiple applications (T2, T4, T6) against the landlord alleging illegal rent increases, breaches of tenant rights, and significant maintenance/safety issues within the building. The tenants claimed various fire code violations, trip hazards, and inadequate maintenance of common areas and individual units. The landlord maintained they were unaware of most issues until the application was served and argued the building was exempt from rent guidelines.

The ruling

All applications filed by the tenants (T2, T4, and T6) were dismissed by the Landlord and Tenant Board. The Board found the tenants' claims regarding maintenance and illegal rent increases lacked the necessary specificity and procedural adherence required by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Notably, the building's status as a new build exempted it from standard rent increase guidelines.