'I just want to have peace': B.C. grandmother battling impending eviction
Elsa Schmidt has lived in her one-bedroom home in Surrey’s Cloverdale neighbourhood since November 2020.
She loves the location on 57 Avenue, and the rent is within her budget – but she says the landlord has had it in for her from day one, and she’s received an eviction notice to leave by Oct. 31.
“She just doesn’t like me,” said the 82-year-old regarding her landlord. “Because my kids come too often, my grandkids come a whole bunch at a time.”
Schmidt said her landlord has told her she has too much furniture, and even that she’s not allowed to bake.
“I bake buns every Saturday for the kids,” she said. “She found out and told me baking buns is a fire hazard.”
Earlier this week, Schmidt received an eviction notice, claiming she broke the rules by having a person age 19 or older live with her in her apartment.
Schmidt’s daughter, Edie Brown, said her mother underwent open-heart surgery more than a year ago, and that the surgeon advised that she should be supervised during her recovery.
“My sister in Kamloops came and stayed with her for probably six weeks,” Brown said. “I’m pretty sure that’s what (the eviction is) referring to.”
According to the eviction notice, a guest of Schmidt’s also parked in a tenant-assigned parking spot, and proceeded to threaten the landlord when she told him he's not allowed, resulting in a police report. CTV News reached out to Surrey RCMP but has yet to receive a response.
Schmidt’s granddaughter took to social media to share her grandmother’s story, and the family has since heard from others who have had experiences with the same landlord.
“The horror stories that came out about this woman are just amazing,” said Casandra Sullivan. “And they own another three buildings.”
On Friday, several tenants, past and present, met together in Cloverdale to discuss bringing possible action to the Residential Tenancy Branch.
“I’d like to see a change,” said Steven Turcotte, a current resident of the building. “I’d like to see this person, this company, stop harassing their tenants.”
Turcotte said the landlord tried evicting him once for a damaged toilet, but he won the appeal.
Another man told CTV News he also received an eviction notice for having a person age 19 or older stay in his home. He said he was accused of subletting his apartment, but that he was temporarily housing his mother, who was displaced due to a house fire. The eviction, he said, was overturned by the Residential Tenancy Branch.
Meanwhile, Schmidt says the experience has been a nightmare.
“Sometimes I just sit in my room and cry,” said Schmidt, holding back tears. “I don’t think that’s fair. I’m 82, worked my whole life and now I just want to have peace.”
But Schmidt and her family aren’t backing down.
“We’re going to fight it,” said Schmidt.
CTV News reached out to the landlord but did not receive a response. A representative from Dole Enterprises Ltd., the building operator, and was told the company would not comment as the matter is before the police and Residential Tenancy Branch.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.