Hundreds of university students are all packed with nowhere to go this long weekend.
The students were told their new apartment building would be ready, however last night they received an e-mail stating it will not be complete for at least another week.
An e-mail from Icon says the city of Waterloo did not grant them an occupancy permit. Therefore, check-in dates will be postponed until September 9th to the 11th.
“I was honestly just shocked and I was so upset. I could have cried because I was just really, really upset,” says Kaitlyn Parrott, Icon Resident & Wilfrid Laurier Student.
Parrott is one of hundreds supposed to be moving into the Icon buildings at Columbia and Philip Streets in Waterloo. The twin 25 storey high-rises are still under construction.
“I’m an international student. I don’t have any friends or family that could take me in temporarily, I have pets that makes finding accommodation even harder,” says Azraa Zoomerwalla, Icon Resident & University of Waterloo student.
Students are posting on a facebook group called “I got I-Conned.” Several students say they signed alternative accommodation forms in which Icon promised to find them housing if the building was not finished. Tenant contracts also state they would get ten days’ notice for occupancy changes.
“Last night was barely even ten hours considering that my move in date was this morning,” says Parrott.
Icon has promised to make September rent free.
With reporting by Allison Tanner
