The remaining tenants of a Langford highrise that was deemed unsafe last month are being asked by the owner to leave, with an additional $1,000 for their troubles.
On Thursday, Centurion Property Associates sent a “notice to vacate” to the approximately 35 units still occupied in the 90-unit Danbrook One building.
“Since we do not, at this time, even have a scope of work that may be required to restore the occupancy permit or a timeline for the completion of repairs … we have to take the unfortunate step of requiring all remaining residents to vacate their units for their own safety and to remove their belongings from the building as soon as possible,” Centurion said in a statement.
Centurion is offering each leaseholder who moves out — and those who have already vacated the building — $1,000 in “compassionate assistance” as of next week.
The owner is also reimbursing any rent paid from Dec. 21 onward, returning damage and pet deposits, and offering renters the option to return once work is completed.
The building remains classified by the City of Langford as unsafe for both occupants and the public, Centurion said.
Company representative Greg Romundt said Centurion is awaiting a third-party engineer’s report that will detail what, if any, work needs to be done.
The building owner says it’s committed to completing any work required for engineers to approve the building, and will allow residents who want to return to their homes to do so at their original rents.
On Dec. 18, Langford questioned the structural integrity of the 11-storey highrise after being tipped off by the Engineers and Geoscientists B.C. association, which had been investigating a complaint since April.
On Dec. 20, the city revoked the building’s occupancy permit after an independent engineering report for the municipality confirmed problems with the building’s gravity system and its lateral system, which affects how it could respond to an earthquake. In addition to faulty first- and second-floor support beams, there are other building-code requirements the structure does not meet.
The news shocked everyone, said Langford Mayor Stew Young.
“It’s an incredible disappointment for everybody — the city and the tenants and, of course, the owners,” Young said.
“Everyone’s been really co-operative,” said Young, commending the owners for adding to the assistance being offered by the city to Danbrook One renters.
The city, supported in part by donations, offered displaced tenants a $200 prepaid credit card, a rent differential for three months up to a total of $1,200 for those who moved into more expensive units, and moving expenses for approved movers. The city continues to offer the rent top-up and moving expenses until Feb. 28.
Shoring of the structure was done on Dec. 23 and 24 as recommended by the city, said Centurion. However, that work was a “temporary back-up measure,” said Romundt.
“It is not a permanent solution. We need an engineering report to inform us what, if anything, needs to be done so we can implement a permanent fix.”
The owners have not re-applied for an occupancy permit, but when they do, if the city is given written confirmation by two independent structural engineers that the building is safe, it can provide that permit quickly, said Young.
The city offered tenants two weeks’ accommodation in hotels, and 56 hotel rooms were used between Dec. 18 and Jan. 3 under the program.
Centurion has opened a customer care centre for residents, which is available seven days a week by calling 1-888-236-7767 or going online to cpliving.com.
A Danbrook One manager can also be contacted at 236-464-4370 or danbrook@centurion.ca
