BRUCEDALE – Tenants of an apartment building in Rockwood will not face eviction if their units are converted to condominiums, Guelph-Eramosa council was assured on Dec. 2.
Councillors received a preliminary report from Wellington County planner Meagan Ferris regarding the 18-unit Cedar Cliff Place building at 264 Alma Street in Rockwood.
The county has received a condo conversion application, which would allow the units to be sold separately, and will make a decision after a further report on the matter. The township is being consulted, and so far has voiced no major concerns.
“This is a major change for the tenants,” said councillor Louise Marshall.
Ferris said tenants would have the “first right of refusal” option to buy their unit, and are protected even if they don’t buy the unit.
“Tenants can’t be kicked out,” she said.
Under the provincial Residential Tenancies Act, a tenant cannot be evicted during the process of a condominium conversion if they were a tenant at the time of the conversion, she said.
Condos could remain rental units, with the new owner being the landlord, Ferris said.
Her report notes the expected selling price of the units would be more than 10 per cent lower than the average price of resale condo units in the Guelph Census Metropolitan Area, meaning they would be identified as “affordable” according to the provincial growth plan.
