This bathroom suffered severe damage and a crumbling ceiling, as seen in a tour of the Sanala housing complex. (submitted/Kari White)

By Spencer Sterritt

SUIT FILED

Legal action launched over poor living conditions at south Nanaimo affordable housing complex

Jul 17, 2020 | 6:03 AM

NANAIMO — A notice of civil claim in a class action lawsuit has been filed in B.C.’s highest court due to unsafe living conditions at an affordable living complex in south Nanaimo.

The legal action from Kari White against BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo was launched on July 3, 2020 in the Supreme Court of BC.

White is representing 20 units of fellow residents of the Sanala complex on Fifth St., which was previously known as King Arthur Court.

The notorious property was bought by BC Housing in 2017 under the affordable housing program, which means housing is provided but supports are not in place to assist tenants.

It’s currently operated by the Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, who are not named in the civil claim.

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“At all material times, BC Housing knew or ought to have known King Arthur Court suffered from severe deficiencies which made it unsafe, unhealthy and unfit for habitation, as a result of the age of the structure and years of neglect.”

White alleged any upgrades to the complex were minor and didn’t rectify major issues such as bug infestations and structural issues.

A tour of the Sanala property in June showed widespread mold, leaky ceilings, water damage in numerous properties, cockroaches and unsafe baseboard heaters.

White’s court claim said BC Housing received reports about the state of living at Sanala but failed to address the deficiencies at all.

After the June tour, a statement from BC Housing said the organization wasn’t aware of the issues at the complex until a March, 2020 tour.

The City of Nanaimo is involved in the legal action since it’s “responsible for the issuance, administration and enforcement of bylaws regarding health and safety of buildings within its jurisdiction.”

“At all material times, Nanaimo knew or ought to have known the deficiencies and risks violate Nanaimo’s bylaws with respect to property and building maintenance, safety, and health,” the claim said.

White claimed she and other residents suffered “emotional, psychological and psychiatric injury, injury to dignity, loss of enjoyment of life and destruction of property.”

The legal action seeks relief from a significant number of damages, such as a violation of human rights, loss of earnings and replacement of property.

Efforts to redevelop Sanala are now tied to a much larger affordable housing project in the same neighbourhood, involving the province, City and Snuneymuxw First Nation.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @SpencerSterritt