Hello; I am currently in a bind where I live and I don't know what to do, or where to turn. Maybe someone on this thread can help.
I live in a basement suite with my boyfriend and my 2 kids (14 and 16), in Kamloops. We have been living here since last November. This suite does not have proper windows (for fire hazards). They are very small windows and we would not be able to make it out if there was a fire. There is no ventilation, and the only air conditioning we have is when the owner turns on the air conditioning at his own discretion. I read a few issues that were pointed out above and some apply to my suite. The issue is fire code, exit options, (only one way out and our exit and entrance goes up some stairs that always smell like smoke, and the worst is that tonight it smelled like Methamphetamine in my kitchen and in the stairwell) window heights, excessive traffic and parking.
The upstairs renters all smoke. The owner lives here with 2 other guys. Everyone is on welfare and no one has jobs. They all smoke and their smoke comes down inside of this suite because of the air shafts that are right outside the door (outside of our exit). They smoke so close to the door that the stairwell is also contaminated with smoke as well.
There are all sorts of holes in between the ceiling and the upstairs floor, because whoever designed this suite did not fill in certain areas. The floors also have open gaps along the baseboards, and bugs can easily crawl through the gaps (We had a very bad infestation of spiders these past few months).
The tenants were getting our mail out of the one mail box and either holding it upstairs for days, or throwing it down on the stairs. When I complained about that the owner told me to get my own mail out of their mailbox (which is very uncomfortable).
I have been complaining about the smoke to the landlord, until he flat out told me that if I didn't like it, then I can move.. Well, I can't move, because we are on a tight budget and it would be impossible.
My question is; The owner is charging us $1,200.00 monthly and I am wondering if we can sue him to get back our money since this suite appears to be an illegal one.
Also how can I find out if it is insured and if it is a legal suite or not? Who do I contact without being threatened?
Another thing; I overheard one of his tenants (young men in their 20's) make a comment about a visitor who came here one day; He said (to the owner); "I should have keyed his car" (there was some sort of an altercation involving the police, and the younger tenants and their visitors). So, as you can see, it's kind of a bad situation.
But my question is; I would love to move NOW, but can I get our money back fr this being an illegal suite? ALL of our money back?
Also, this owner wanted us to sign a rental agreement that claims we are only giving him $600.00 a month, but we really give him $1,200.00 a month..
If anyone out here can help.