Wednesday May 19, 2004
Three. That's the maximum number of tenant applications the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal here in Kingston can now book for any one day of hearings. Which was the explanation I was given for the fact that my landlord's application has a hearing date of June 9 and my hearing date is June 30 even though he filed his yesterday and I filed mine today.
"They take a long time." The tenant applications. No kidding. And that must be why they've abandoned the first come, first served plan: so landlords don't have to wait so long to toss people out on the street. Much better that tenants, who are not, by the way being PAID for any of this work, wait as long as possible. Nice
I was as understanding as I could be while I waited for the cumbersome manual processing of my forms. Quasi-judicial and quasi-automated. Many hours have gone into preparing this, the first part of the documentation. There are 8 (yes, 8!) named parties to my application each of whom is to receive a packet of documents approximately 125 pages in size.
There's more to come, but I think most of it will be on a CD: emails, photo's (jpg) and the recorded encounters.
Which brings me to a funny part of the day. I found out (only by asking - it's not in any of the helpful instructions that accompany the forms) that if even one of the addresses I have for these folks is wrong and needs to be changed, I must serve everyone again after I have requested an amendment to the application itself. (Well, if it's in the instructions, it sure isn't very prominent.)
There was one person whose address I was unsure of because it is listed on canada411 as a rural route. The land registry came up with two different physical addresses for that rather unique name. Anyway, I called this person and left a message asking for a return call and indicating I needed their address so I could get some papers to them related to my application to the Tribunal.
I was pleased and surprised to get a call earlier this evening. And then very very amused at the wariness: Do I have to sign anything? (No) Is this call being recorded? (No) (I really really wanted to ask if he was going to say something that he didn't want recorded - but I behaved and did not.) Panadew doesn't manage that building anymore. (Right, but they did then and an application can go back a year or more.)
This time around I am enjoying the fact that some people are intimidated by me. More accurately, they really are just worried about light being shed in dark corners they'd rather not have others notice. Looks good on them. How's that saying go? "People with nothing to hide hide nothing."
He still hasn't given me an address, but did agree to try to meet me sometime tomorrow so I can hand him the papers. We'll see. And I'll go back to the Tribunal office first thing and amend the application (before I make copies for everyone) to reflect the rural route address instead of the one I guessed at.
AND THEN -- I'll have the joy of handing out the packages.
This evening I watched a bunch of deer playing and grazing just off the highway about 8 pm or so. They were magical and awesome and gentle and peaceful. A lovely change from the insane noise and irritations of my building.
I only just got back from escaping and the place has settled down somewhat - for now.
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