Latest news with #RTB
Hamilton Spectator
3 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Coquitlam landlords' attempt to overturn $12,000 tenant award fails in B.C. Supreme Court
A Coquitlam couple who evicted their tenant on the grounds that a family member would move into the suite have failed to convince a judge that a $12,000 compensation award against them was unreasonable or unfair. In a July 11 decision, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Karen Douglas dismissed a petition from Kristyna and Neil Bennett, who had sought to overturn a Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) decision that ruled they failed to follow through on their stated intention for ending Andrea Seto's tenancy. The court found no evidence of bias, no procedural unfairness, and no reviewable error in the RTB's decision to award Seto the equivalent of 12 months' rent. Seto had been living in the basement suite of the Bennetts' home since 2019. On Dec. 19, 2022, the Bennetts served her a two-month eviction notice, stating that Kristyna's mother, Elia Zaurrini – a co-owner of the property – would occupy the unit while waiting for construction to finish on her new condo. Seto vacated the unit by the deadline of Feb. 28, 2023. However, in the months that followed, the unit was advertised for rent online, prompting Seto to file a claim under B.C.'s Residential Tenancy Act, which requires landlords to compensate tenants if they fail to follow through on personal-use evictions. At the November 2023 RTB hearing, the arbitrator found the Bennetts had not met their burden of proof to show that Zaurrini had moved in within a reasonable time and remained there for at least six months – the minimum requirement under the law. Although Zaurrini testified that she moved in on March 1, 2023, and stayed until early September, the arbitrator found that this was not supported by credible evidence. Central to the arbitrator's reasoning were Facebook messages sent by Kristyna to prospective tenants. In a July 26, 2023 message, she wrote that the unit was 'empty now.' In a landlord group post, she wrote, 'My elderly mom moved in until her unit was built. Moved out end of July.' At the hearing, she claimed she had 'worded it wrong' and 'was not watching (her) words.' The arbitrator found these explanations vague and not credible. The Bennetts attempted to argue the RTB had overlooked key evidence they claimed showed the unit was being occupied, including e-transfer receipts from Zaurrini up until June 2023, a letter from a neighbour and a social worker, and photos of her vehicle and unit. However, the arbitrator found that none of these items definitively proved Zaurrini occupied the basement unit, rather than another part of the house. He noted the vehicle could belong to someone visiting the property, the photos showed few belongings, and the neighbour had never entered the unit himself. Douglas, reviewing the RTB's decision under the high threshold of 'patent unreasonableness,' concluded that the arbitrator's reasoning was logically coherent, well-founded in the evidence, and within the bounds of the RTB's discretion. 'The central issue before the arbitrator was whether the landlords had met their burden of proving that Ms. Zaurrini had occupied the unit within a reasonable time and for at least six months,' Douglas stated in the ruling. 'The fact that (the social worker) recommended Ms. Zaurrini move into the unit . . . does not mean that Ms. Zaurrini did so.' The court also rejected the Bennetts' argument that the hearing was procedurally unfair, as Seto was given an opportunity to question the landlords, but Kristyna was not specifically invited to cross-examine Seto. However, Douglas said there was no indication that she ever requested to do so. The judge also did not find merit in the argument that the hearing should have been adjourned so the Bennetts' neighbour could testify live, as Kristyna conceded they never entered the unit. The judge upheld the RTB's original decision and dismissed the Bennetts' petition in full, including their allegations of bias. Under B.C. law, tenants can claim 12 months' rent – in this case, $1,000 per month – if a landlord cannot prove that they or their close family member actually used the unit for at least six months after the eviction. The Bennetts did not argue extenuating circumstances, leaving the burden entirely on them to show that the purpose for the eviction was fulfilled. Seto's compensation remains enforceable following the court's decision. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Extra.ie
5 days ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
Residential Tenancies Board has 8 staff to locate 8,000 rogue landlords
The Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) has just eight investigators searching for around 8,000 landlords who are operating on the black market. Speaking at the Oireachtas Committee on Housing yesterday, the RTB highlighted the challenges it faces in coming down on landlords who do not register their properties. According to the 2022 Census, there were 25,248 formal rental arrangements which had not been registered with the RTB. Rosemary Steen, RTB director, said 'approximately 8,000 landlords' are still not registered with the board. Rosemary Steen, RTB director, and RTB chair Owen Keegan. Pic: Leah Farrell / Photocall Ireland RTB chair Owen Keegan said they would not be able to analyse an improvement or worsening of the situation until the next Census. He said the Central Statistics Office could not identify offenders because of EU data privacy rules, and the only information the board can act on is a list of the seven counties with the highest rate of non-compliance. The RTB has been conducting media campaigns in these counties. Ms Steen said funding was a major issue, adding that the board has just eight investigators for the whole country and that it needs to increase staff numbers 'to assist in investigations'. Mr Keegan said that 'we can share our data with Revenue, but as of now, Revenue can't share data with us'. He said access to Revenue Commissioners data would 'certainly assist us in targeting our campaigns to ensure compliance' on registration.
Daily Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Express
Water, energy issues: Petra Squad visits five key sites
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: Fadillah (centre being briefed about the water problem in UMS. Kota Kinabalu: Water supply issues, affecting students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), with the university becoming the first location visited under the Petra Squad's initiative to assess water and energy challenges in Sabah on Monday. The on-ground assessment, aimed at gathering direct feedback, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister. Advertisement He was accompanied by his deputy, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and Petra Secretary-General Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, with the visit taking place from 11am to 5pm. In addition to UMS, the survey covered four other key locations: the Sungai Damai Basin 8 Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Likas; the Kota Kinabalu Main Inlet Substation in Tanjung Aru; Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to review a rooftop solar installation; and the Putatan Phase I Sewerage Scheme project in Putatan. At UMS, Fadillah said the Federal Government is committed to assisting the university in addressing frequent water disruptions, through a short-term intervention plan valued at RM1 million. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Sabah Water Department, Petra and UMS. The plan is expected to benefit more than 3,000 students, particularly those residing at the Tun Mustapha and Tun Fuad Residential Colleges, which are among the most affected by water supply interruptions. 'This will involve the construction of a dedicated distribution channel to connect to UMS' existing groundwater source, the addition of an underground water tank with a capacity of 0.13 million litres and the installation of automated valve controls,' he said. Also present during the UMS visit were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UMS vice-chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor. At the Sungai Damai Basin 8 RTB, Fadillah said RM48 million in development funding has been allocated for the flood mitigation project, which commenced in September 2023 and has reached 54 per cent physical completion. The project includes upgrading the drainage system, constructing pump houses, road culverts and flood control gates. Upon completion, expected in July 2026, it is projected to protect around 17,500 residents from flood risks. The visit continued at the Kota Kinabalu Main Inlet Substation, with the handover of seven energy sector projects in Sabah and Labuan. These projects, implemented by the Sabah Electricity Supply Special Project Team (SESST), involve a total allocation of over RM260 million. A total of 60,434 consumers in Sabah and Labuan will benefit from improved electricity services through infrastructure upgrades, including substation enhancements, new grid connections and safety systems in Sipitang, Beaufort, Tanjung Aru, Kota Kinabalu, Ranau and Sandakan, as well as Labuan. Meanwhile, at KKIA, a rooftop solar installation, under the Solar for Self-Consumption initiative, comprises 8,400 photovoltaic panels across three buildings. Now regulated by the Sabah Energy Commission, the system is expected to generate 5,325.7 MWh of clean energy annually and reduce carbon emissions by 4,046 metric tonnes, in line with Malaysia's target of a 70 per cent renewable energy mix and broader ESG commitments. Fadillah and the Petra Squad concluded their inspection with a visit to the Putatan Sewerage Scheme Phase I project. The RM134 million initiative, which began in December 2020, has reached 69.85 per cent completion, and is expected to be fully completed by March 2026. The project aims to improve the sewerage infrastructure in the Putatan catchment area, offering significant benefits for public health, environmental sustainability, and the overall development of essential infrastructure in the district. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
7 days ago
- Politics
- Barnama
PETRA Squad Inspects Five Key Sites To Address Water, Energy Issues In Sabah
KOTA KINABALU, July 14 (Bernama) -- Water supply issues affecting students at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) have drawn the attention of the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA), with the university becoming the first location visited under the PETRA Squad's initiative to assess water and energy challenges in Sabah today. The on-ground assessment, aimed at gathering direct feedback, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, who is also Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister. He was accompanied by his deputy, Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir and PETRA secretary-general, Datuk Mad Zaidi Mohd Karli, with the visit taking place from 11 am to 5 pm today. In addition to UMS, the survey covered four other key locations: the Sungai Damai Basin 8 Flood Mitigation Plan (RTB) in Likas; the Kota Kinabalu Main Inlet Substation in Tanjung Aru; Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) to review a rooftop solar installation; and the Putatan Phase I Sewerage Scheme project in Putatan. At UMS, Fadillah said that the federal government is committed to assisting the university in addressing frequent water disruptions, through a short-term intervention plan valued at RM1 million. The initiative will be implemented in collaboration with the Sabah Water Department, PETRA and UMS. The plan is expected to benefit more than 3,000 students, particularly those residing at the Tun Mustapha and Tun Fuad Residential Colleges, which are among the most affected by water supply interruptions. 'This will involve the construction of a dedicated distribution channel to connect to UMS' existing groundwater source, the addition of an underground water tank with a capacity of 0.13 million litres, and the installation of automated valve controls,' he said. Also present during the UMS visit were Higher Education Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and UMS vice-chancellor, Prof Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor. At the Sungai Damai Basin 8 RTB, Fadillah said that RM48 million in development funding has been allocated for the flood mitigation project, which commenced in September 2023 and has reached 54 per cent physical completion. The project includes upgrading the drainage system, constructing pump houses, road culverts, and flood control gates. Upon completion, expected in July 2026, it is projected to protect around 17,500 residents from flood risks.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Fadillah: Federal govt helps Sabah improve public health and flood mitigation
KOTA KINABALU: The federal government, through the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry, is stepping up efforts to improve public health infrastructure and flood resilience in Sabah. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the Putatan Phase 1 Centralised Sewerage Scheme, valued at RM134.4 million, is currently 69.85 per cent complete as of last month. "Launched in December 2020, the project aims to upgrade sewage infrastructure in the rapidly urbanising Putatan district. "It is slated for completion by March 3, 2026," he said after visiting the project near here. The scope of the project includes a new sewage treatment plant with a 50,000 population equivalent (PE) capacity and 9.9km of new sewage pipeline network, the rationalisation of three existing small-scale sewage treatment plants, and the construction of a 60m pipe bridge. Fadillah, who is energy transition and water transformation minister, said one of the major challenges in implementation has been the discovery of large boulders underground, which delayed pipe-laying works. "The contractor has increased the number of pipe jacking teams to three as of June 2025, allowing simultaneous work at project sites. "The project is expected to significantly enhance public sanitation, improve environmental sustainability, and support long-term development in the Putatan area." Meanwhile, the Sungai Damai Flood Mitigation Project (RTB) in Basin 8 is some 54 per cent completed. This RM48 million project is part of the federal government Development Expenditure channeled to Sabah through the ministry. It began in September 2023 and is targeted for completion by July 2026. The project includes upgrading drainage systems, constructing a pumping station, building culverts and flood control gates. These interventions are expected to protect around 17,500 residents in the surrounding areas from recurrent flooding. This year, the ministry has approved development expenditure of RM153.3 million under the 12th Malaysia Plan (Rolling Plan 5) for 27 projects under the Drainage and Irrigation Department. These projects cover flood mitigation, coastal erosion control, river mouth rehabilitation, riverbank stabilisation, and mechanical and electrical works.
