Surprise eviction: Cambridge family suddenly homeless after landlord loses property
A family in Cambridge, Ont. is now homeless after they were evicted from the house they were renting.
It all came as a huge surprise because they signed a lease and paid their rent on time.
It was only after a sheriff arrived at their home to evict them Friday morning that they learned the landlord they’d been paying rent to hadn’t owned the property since January.
"I had 10 minutes,” explained Rebecca Gray, recalling the rush to get out after the sheriff and police officers showed up at her door. “So all my beds, my couches, all my clothes, all my kids toys, all her toys, her birthday presents, their Easter chocolate. Everything is in that house."
Tenants 'completely blindsided'
Gray, her partner and her three young kids moved into the home on Short Street in January after signing a 12-month lease.
But a court order shows the landlord, Sarah Kon, lost the property to what appears to be two private lending groups days after the family moved in.
The courts sent notice to Kon that the property would be seized, but no one told the tenants.
Gray’s realtor, Kim Butler, said her client was “completely blindsided.”
Rebecca Gray moved into the Short Street home on Jan. 15 after signing a 12-month lease. Court documents show the landlord lost possession of the home four days later. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
Appledale Property Management, who is now in control of the home, declined to comment.
Butler said the property manager told her they visited the home in December and confirmed the landlord lived there. No one from property management team returned to the home after that, but it was listed for rent in December. That’s when Gray signed a lease starting on Jan. 15. Court documents show just four days later, the court gave possession of the home to the investment groups.
“She [Kon] knew that she was in this situation as a landlord and then she didn't bother to call or advise my client in any way," Butler said.
Landlord and tenant board regulations require tenants to be given proper notice of eviction, but because it was the landlord losing the property, it was up to her to notify the tenants.
“Notifications were sent to the house in the landlord's name. But my client can't open that mail," Butler explained.
A notice on the door of Rebecca Gray's former rental home is pictured on March 25, 2024. (Colton Wiens/CTV Kitchener)
Since Friday, the Gray family has stayed at their realtor’s home, in a hotel and now at a friend’s vacant home, sleeping on air mattresses.
They’ve purchased new clothes, and have a GoFundMe page that’s raised nearly $3,000 as of Monday afternoon.
"This is Value Village clothes. I had to buy a new playpen for [my daughter] to sleep in,” Gray said. “Things that we already have in my house that I can't have, I have to repurchase just to live."
The landlord, Sarah Kon, did not respond to CTV’s request for comment.
Realtor says tenants need more protections
Butler said she understands notice was given to the landlord, but wants the province to explore changing its policy to protect tenants.
“Yes, the notice is sent obviously in the landlord's name, but I do think that it is really important for them to actually go post notice on the door, because in this case she wasn't living there anymore," Butler said.
Gray said her landlord told her after the eviction that it wasn’t supposed to happen until July. She said Kon also told her the realtor should have known she was re-financing, but realtors can’t access that information without specific permission.
“We can't ask any of that. Legally, only their mortgage broker or their bank can get that information. And we're not entitled to that," Butler explained.
Gray said they would look into whether they can take legal action, but with having to purchase new items and find a new rental, the family doesn't know if they can afford it.
"My tenant paid her first and last month's rent. Right now, I highly doubt we're going to get that last month's rent back. And now she has to go and pay another last month's rent to a new property," Butler said.
Butler said she is in communication with the new property manager and is hoping they will allow Gray to retrieve her things.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi still missing after helicopter accident in mountains
A helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the country's foreign minister and other officials apparently crashed in the mountainous northwest reaches of Iran on Sunday.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Ex-partner charged with first-degree murder after 55-year-old woman killed in Montreal
Less than 24 hours after Montreal's 12th homicide investigation began, Montreal police confirmed that a 55-year-old woman's death in St. Michel is the island's 13th homicide. The woman's ex-spouse has been charged with first-degree murder.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.
VIDEO Born without front legs, this dog has been inspiring the world for 3 years: Dresden farm owner
A sanctuary dedicated to animals with disabilities is celebrating the third birthday of one of its most popular residents.
Toxic drugs circulating in northeastern Ont., police say
Canada’s largest First Nations police service, the Nishnawbe Aski Police Service issued a community safety alert as extremely toxic drugs are likely circulating in many of the communities it serves.