On August 22nd, 2022, Halifax resident Stacey Gomez went public with a video documenting actions being taken by landlord Marcus Ranjbar, who is seeking to have her renovicted from her home of close to 5 years.
The video, which now has thousands of views on YouTube, has been a lightning rod for conversations with regards to renovictions and landlord abuse in Nova Scotia.
A residential tenancy hearing to decide on the landlord’s application to have Gomez renovicted is set to take place on August 31, 2022. “The landlord’s reasons for the renoviction continue to change. First they said there was high radon, then renovations and now they are saying there is a mould issue,” says Gomez.
The hearing will also address Gomez’s counter claim for repairs and other issues, including landlord retaliation. Gomez alleges that on June 28th, the day CBC interviewed her in her home for a story, the landlord posted defamatory social media posts about her.
In the video, Gomez says that the landlord has stepped up his actions in lead up to the hearing, including demolishing her patio and destroying her garden with no notice, blocking the main entrance to her home and posting a release of liability on her entry doors. The document outlines the risk of Gomez’ death “whether caused by the negligence of the landlord or otherwise.” She also says that on August 13, 2022, Ranjbar demolished the front steps to the building with no notice, impeding her mail delivery.
“I decided to come forward because the note and these other actions by the landlord, left me fearing for my safety and even for my life,” said Gomez
The day the video was published, Gomez received a threatening text from a number she does not know.
Lisa Lechance, MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island, tweeted: “.@staceyjgomez is fighting to stay in her home. She has a legal right to a Residential Tenancies Board hearing … yet in the meantime she is being subjected to threatening actions. Stacey’s experience is repeated time and time again.#nspoli”
Gomez says that she is thankful for the outpouring of support she has received. She stated: “Thanks to everyone who has provided support, whether through social media shares, physical accompaniment, food drop offs, rides, offers of place to stay temporarily, checking in with me, and funds. I truly feel like community has my back in this crisis situation. This all contributes to my safety. We keep each other safe.”
Since August 22nd, 2022, Gomez has raised over $2,000 in support of her case through a GoFundMe campaign.
Gomez says that she hopes that the province puts in place better protections for tenants such as a permanent rent cap, and regulations to deter renovictions.
