Dear Editor,
Re: “Meth lab clean-up incurs high fees,” News, Dec. 12.
In the absence of more detail, shame on city council and senior city staff for piling injury on the already victimized provider of rental accommodation by an illegal meth lab operator, costing the victim unknown thousands in costs, damages, lost income, etc.
The news item did not include the name of the meth lab operator and details of any consequences resulting from their criminal/civil misconduct (privacy rights?). Where are they now? What do we pay police, Crown lawyers, the courts, senior bureaucrats and elected representatives for?
Oh yes, criminals have rights in Canada, while Jill and Joe Honest Citizen are required to pay the bills.
Apparently, it is okay for innocent Jill and Joe Honest Citizen to pay all the processing costs. Why?
Good luck getting a quick eviction for non-payment of rent, damages to property, disturbing the peaceful enjoyment of neighbours and property owners by a disruptive and negligent tenant.
Police defer involvement with “it’s a civil matter” leaving the landlord with the expensive and complicated civil process. Take it from me, a former rental property operator-run, don’t walk from taking on the risk and responsibility of operating residential rental property.
Don’t be a free tax collection service for any level of government (municipal, provincial and federal) until such time as perpetrators of the above illegal abuse are held financially accountable for all damages and their names cleared by police and Residential Tenancy Branch services as responsible tenants with no past record of tenancy deficiencies before eligibility for new tenancy rights.
Surely, those respectful of others will be respected with tenancy rights. When will government be respectful of residential service providing taxpayers? Yes, I encountered many respectful, responsible and talented tenants over the years. On the rare occasion, when a bad apple was encountered, the system relied on for assistance and support was absent.
Good luck to those who pay the terrible price (landlords and tenants), resulting from the bad behaviour by the few.
Ken McLennan
RICHMOND
