July 1st, 2012
What’s the Latest on Nina Willis, the Ontario “Tenant from Hell”?
Our 2012 “Tenant from Hell” Nina wills was told by judge Thea Herman in June to pay her landlord the rent owed. Read more here.
How Much Was the Rent Owed?
Willis was ordered to pay her current landlord a sum of $8,250 by money order or by certified cheque.
That’s A Lot of Money! Did She Finally Pay?
Despite her history of evictions and long list of bounced checks, Willis followed the Superior Court judge’s order and actually paid almost all of the owed money to avoid an eviction.
That’s Surprising!
Well, where else would she move to? Her face was on the Toronto Star and landlords all over Toronto have come to know her, and to avoid her.
What Would Have Happened if Willis Didn’t Pay?
There was some real motivation for Willis. If she didn’t meet the judge’s ordered deadline her appeal of an order by the Landlord and Tenant Board to evict her would be void.
The board ruled that Willis must leave because she failed to pay rent. Willis, 48, alleges in court documents she was ordered out because of a “factual error” at the hearing and because she didn’t have an “opportunity to participate.”
Herman had said there was “no dispute” that Willis hadn’t paid rent, but it wasn’t clear if her appeal was “utterly devoid of merit.” In addition to paying the $8,250,
What About Future Rent? (Today is the First of the Month!)
Willis was told she must pay $1,650 to her landlord at the first of each month.
If she doesn’t pay the rest of what she owes on Monday, or pay her rent on time each month, the landlord’s lawyer could take action to have her appeal defeated, lifting the stay on her eviction.
Did Willis Say Anything?
In front of the just Willis promised to follow the order.
Willis said “I do want to pay. I have to pay because that has nothing to do with my case.”
What Happens Now?
Willis has been fighting off various eviction orders for seven months now. Her usual excuse is claiming the rental property is is deficient for health and even safety standards.
For the landlord, this is another defeat. He states that he originally planned to present the property to his daughter. Now that Willis has paid up to this point, he can’t do it.
What’s the Lesson From All This?
The lesson is being a landlord in Ontario is a dangerous game. It can end up costing you thousands of dollars and months of stress.
Any Advice for Landlords to Avoid Hellish Tenants like Willis?
Yes. Tenant Screening. OLA members are offered credit checks for only $10. Become an OLA member, read posts in the private members forum, use property documents, screen carefully, and do credit checks!
As a member of the Ontario Landlords Association you can avoid these Tenants from Hell and rent to good tenants!
OLA members can do credit checks for only $10. Isn’t that worth saving yourself from a Tenant from Hell costing you thousands?
Tags: tenant from hell, tenant screening
Landlords! just do a credit check, it is not so difficult.
just do a credit check, but some landlord just too cheap and ends up to pay a lot of money to learn the lesson.
Why is the Ontario Liberal government protecting bad tenants? Is it because they want to put the housing burden on private landlords? I suspect YES!
Can we stop this public shaming of this young woman who has not been convicted of a single crime!
Shame on the Right-wing landlord friendly Toronto Star!
I believe her rental unit has a lot of problem, that’s why she didn’t want to pay, most landlord only care about collect the rent, they don’t fix anything. if that’s me i won’t pay either.
The system is so unfair, how can anyone be a landlord in Ontario, i am sure Dalton McGuinty is not a landlord, otherwise landlord tenant law will be changed immediately.
What are they going to write about her in the Star now that she has paid up guess nothing maybe an apology is in order since there is plenty worse tenaants than her in this big city of Toronto go to any Tribunal on any given day & there are cases that have been going on for years and the rent owing is 15k-20k just ridiculous Toront Star would put her picture in the paper and like mr Fair said ”she hasnt even been convicted of any offence” doesnt every citizen in Canada have the right to fair & equal housing?
It is time for the OLA to set up a site where landlords could report tenants that are unacceptable for reasons not only to do with failure to pay rent, but also for reasons to do with damage to property, unnecessary complaints, etc. Make it a requirement that in order to access the site, you must contribute info to the site. Such a registry would not only save landlords money and aggravation, but it would make it very difficult for poor tenants to obtain accomodation. That is the only way to encourage better tenant behaviour. God knows the Landlord and Tenant Board isn’t going to help landlords in any manner whatsoever.
Credit reports while the only current tool are only of partial/limited value when choosing tenants.
Hey John and Mr Fair have you even read any of the facts? Reading is hard. Let’s all take the side of the serial non-paying renter. Oh, poor Nina. How do you guys not fall down more when you’re walking?
[...] It’s important to screen tenants. Like our friends at the Ontario Landlords Forum show, avoid “Tenants From Hell!“. [...]
[...] been following the Toronto Star story of the “Tenant From Hell” for [...]