Tenants in Sherbrooke, in the Eastern Townships, are struggling with an infestation of cockroaches that has lasted for several months in an apartment building, and more particularly in the apartment of a lady who has been living with this nightmare for two years.
Finding housing is far from easy these days, but having housing is not everything, it still has to be healthy.
In the drawers, behind the microwave, on the wardrobe doors, in the bathroom, Katia Castro's apartment is infested with cockroaches.
“It lifts my heart. It often makes me hungry. I can't take it anymore, ”testified the one who continually keeps a vacuum cleaner handy.
The problem dates from her arrival in this accommodation, almost two years ago, she said.
She asked for an intervention a long time ago, but nothing is done.
"It's not human, we should all be able to live in a healthy place," lamented the tenant.
TVA Nouvelles learned on Friday that the person who managed the building on behalf of the owner was recently fired.
A new manager took over and an exterminator was on site in the afternoon to assess the situation throughout the building.
"I couldn't see all the apartments today, but I can tell you that we are going to put in place a game plan to stop the problem," said Chad Privé, co-owner of Solution Cimex.
What complicates the work is that tenants refuse to let the exterminators in. It happened on Friday.
“The key to success is everyone working together. Sometimes bad habits of certain tenants can interfere with treatment, that's why we do a lot of education with them, ”said Mr. Privé.
"Landlords can apply to the Administrative Housing Tribunal to request emergency authorization to enter the accommodation and carry out the work necessary to overcome the infestation, for the well-being of all tenants,” explained the Director of Public Affairs at the Corporation of Quebec Property Owners, Marc-André Plante.
Reached by telephone by TVA Nouvelles, the owner of the building in question mentioned that such a request would be addressed to the Court.
