LIVE TWEETING FROM LTB ONLINE HEARINGS:
- 2:15 block starting. Whitmore presiding. Taking attendance.
- Counsel says they were accidentally made host of the meeting, getting messages that ppl are waiting in ‘lobby’; is ignoring them.
- Whitmore asking for duty council for Oshawa, no one responds.
- Duty counsel for Windsor responds saying he’s in multiple ‘rooms’, could help, but connection cuts out.
- Still taking attendance, more bad unintelligible connections
-someone’s had their digital ‘hand’ up the whole time so far
- lots of background noise, multiple conversations audible
- still trying to find duty counsel for a tenant in Oshawa — “Maybe it’s Cobourg?”
“is the person speaking right now speaking to me, or is that background noise?”
Still looking for duty counsel.
“I’m hearing a background conversation”
Everyone is now muted.
Random hand still up. Counsel who is still ‘host’, says duty counsel for Oshawa is waiting in the lobby. Chair says it scrolls by too fast, sometimes he misses them.
Random man standing with the camera pointed at the crotch of his jeans.
1st matter, tenant looking to extend his termination date. Has been out of work, just got work, needs time. Landlord doesn’t consent. Background conversation and people laughing.
Everyone muted again
With the background noise, missed how first matter ended. Moving on.
“Update sheet hasn’t been uploaded to my system, can you reupload it”? Lots of sharing of technical details and urls.
Next matter, done in 60 seconds, tenant to pay 1299.60$ by dec 3rd. If not, can be evicted without hearing. Tenant doesn’t understand. Bad connection. Ends with consent.
More background noise and strange audio artifacts.
Hard to keep up, things move very quickly.
Next, another arrears. Tenant arguing that — nvm, system seems to have crashed / frozen. Microsoft Teams running my computer very hard, seems it overheated. Rebooting.
Hate to imagine someone trying to run it on an older computer.
Currently back in the lobby, waiting to be let back in. Maybe the counsel who was accidentally made ‘host’ will let me in?
Worth noting, if my hearing was happening right now, I would be recorded as absent, and the hearing would go on without me.
Just got back in “... technical issues. If you don’t have a witness you’re going to lose.”
Apparently I was let in by a random attendee.
Trying to get caught up. Sounds like it’s an N12 (landlord’s own use) eviction?
Whitmore issues standard 11 day eviction. Refers to the fact that the LTB is in the midst of a ‘Blitz’
Counsel says more people in lobby waiting. Whitmore isn’t concerned, says they’re ‘anonymous’.
Mr Rubin representing a lot of landlords today.
New matter. Tenant withheld rent until landlord would provide proper standard lease. Landlord has now complied, and most arrears repaid. Arguing about whether he has to pay for the period where the LL didn’t comply. Counsel not involved in case bending over, scratching his head.
Tenant asking for 6m to pay outstanding rent. Doesn’t have the money, needs time to sell belongings. Asking for 500$ extra rent a month (on top of around $2000/m normal rent) for 6m to repay arrears.
Landlord doesn’t consent to repayment plan. Wants full amount immediately.
Tenant was told by LTB hotline he didn’t have to pay for the period the landlord didn’t comply, so wasn’t prepared to pay.
Landlord confers w lawyer, consents.
Whitmore: “you understand if you’re a day late or a penny short you can be evicted without a hearing?”
Tenant: Yes
Moving on.
Another tenant asking for repayment plan.
Rubin, repping LL, needs time to consult client. Muted, but onscreen. Sighs, takes off glasses, rubs bridge of nose. Evicting people is gruelling work, clearly.
Still waiting as Rubin talks w client onscreen, rubbing forehead. Some background noise — sounded, with apologies, like flatulence.
Rubins standing now, giving us the full crotch view. I recognize those jeans — it’s the man from earlier, upthread.
Someone sighs loudly.
Rubin’s back. Wants $500 for December, then the balance ($6000) by January.
Call your legal clinic and ask them to represent you at the hearing.
Some legal clinics have refused to represent tenants who won’t sign dangerous repayment plans. This is not OK. If they refuse, ask for a letter confirming their denial of service.
At the hearing a tenant can tell their side of the story. The LTB has the power to deny the landlord’s eviction case or to give the tenant time to repay the rent owing.
You will be given a minimum of 11 days but tenants can ask for more time to repay.