My move in date for the new unit was supposed to be Sept 1, then they changed it to Aug 1. That day didn’t happen because the new unit wasn’t ready, so I was told it would be ready on Aug 6. I moved yesterday.

What a shit show!! My new apartment has been rushed. The workers never bothered to cover my belongings and there’s saw dust and sanding dust on all my clean items. On lamps, in clean clothes and it goes on. Nothing has been cleaned, including cupboards. My landlady isn’t happy. Her daughter was supposed to clean up the apartment so it can be ready. My landlady is going to be re-painting.

The bathroom isn’t finished and I can’t shower because there’s no shower bar to put curtains. I left a clean apartment (and cigarette smoke) and moved into a place that’s dirty and full of cigarette smoke between 10:30pm-3am because I’m beside a bar (It comes in through the vents) and all the window mechanisms are broken. I cried all day and night. I’m exhausted. I’m not really happy here and I hate the train, but I’m sure I’ll get used to it?

I’m kind of between a rock and a hard place. My landlords are very nice and they’re caring people. My landlady said she’s willing to come with me to furniture stores so I can choose a new couch (the one I’ve had for 11 years couldn’t fit through the door, even with the door taken off). They renovated my unit when they didn’t have to: new kitchen sink, new flooring, new bathtub. They put in a coat closet and a small pantry. If I choose to leave, it’ll probably be a slap in the face to the landlady because she’s worked so hard and I’ve built a good relationship. My mom said to give this place a chance. If I’m still not happy in a year, I can go back home and save some money (so my dad said). The rent is decent $950 + electricity. It’s really hard finding apartments now for under $1000.

My mom and my brothers friend will be coming over later to help me clean. I’ve lost motivation and I’m depressed. I still don’t have internet as I’ve been using my data since Aug 1 (that’s when my brother moved out of the downstairs apartment and moved in with my grandma. He’s not happy because she’s mean and possibly starting Alzheimer’s or dementia). I’ve used 60% and it goes fast

I'd been wondering what happened with your situation. It at least sounds like for now your mom is being human. I agree give it time. Maybe there's a way to help block/filter the smoke smell out. The fact your landlord is involved with how the rental.is going speaks large volumes to me on the positive side. The fact she's even willing to help find fitting furniture means she cares. I'm also sorry to hear of your gma. Those conditions are never fun. I used to work in a memory care nursing home facility and after a point with many of them if they can remember their own name makes for a good day.

I'm so sorry to hear the new place isn't in the best state. Sending you so much love, I know it's hard to live somewhere uncomfortable. I've had the renovation sawdust issue myself. Really gets everywhere. I have to agree that having a helpful landlady means a lot. I'm sure a lot of things can be sorted out!

I just found out there’s abestos in the building and the stairs contains the tiles. The landlord needs to cover it with plywood, but since this was built in 1961, asbestos is throughout. I have forced air in here.

This was actually a house and it was turned into an apartment at some point, not by my landlords though (the couple in the basement have been here for 33 years). My current landlords purchased this building 2 years ago.

I’m about to cry. Not only does this contain cancer, but my kitchen sink needs to be replaced and I can’t use it and the bathtub drain needs to be replaced and I can’t uSe the shower. They have to cut a hole in the wall to replace the plumbing. I’m scared shitless because asbestos is usually in walls, around pipes and ducts, attics (they went into the attic and put a ceiling fan in my bedroom) and now I’m so paranoid, idk what to do.

I also ordered internet from a new Canadian company, so we’ll see what they’re like.

Pings

Ugh I'm so sorry.. you really can't seem to catch a break...

Oh my gosh. I'm so sorry. I have no idea what I'd even do in that situation!

Omg I'll just be frank...this has been an entire nightmare. At least the landlord will be handling this and swiftly I hope!

The couple in the basement most likely have it the worst! I wouldn't be surprised if they have health issues after being residents for 33 years.

Perhaps since you've only been there a short while, there may not be any long last effects towards your health. Given that it's been discovered now, renovations can begin to fix the asbestos.

I'm having a hard time attempting to concoct any kind of a "brightside" scenario for you, other than saying that once all repairs are done and you have a functioning apartment clean and free of asbestos, you'll be a resident of a new apartment, all your own to make as cozy as possible for you and Pepper. :/

Well, at least I’m out of mood and heavy second hand cigarette smoke, so that’s a silver lining? My landlord fixed my kitchen sink and he tinkered with the bathtub drain and now it’s functioning! He also brought me a temporary shower bar until I find one I like.

I brought up my concerns about the asbestos and he said “I wouldn’t put people in harms way. The stairs will be fixed and I lived with it in my very first house”. I feel confident that he knows what he’s talking about? They’re very caring people and they will not let people live in a dump. They bought my previous apartment building and they flat out said if they were slumlords, they’d rent the units as is. They’ve gutted the two worst units (the stinky people and the heavy smokers units) and they’re so thankful that they don’t have a lot of work in my unit or my brothers. My previous building was built in 1996, so abestos isn’t an issue.

As for Pepper, he’shas been having a great time! He’s been waking up hours earlier than he used to be (he was getting up around 11:30pm-1:30am). Since I’ve been in my new place (Aug 14) He’s been waking up around 9:30pm-11pm)

I can’t afford to move again or to find another apartment. I was lucky I got this new place. I was looking for a new place to live for 2.5 years (given my old living conditions) without luck.

Ive been thinking of you and I really hope for your sake they can help you more. Kind or not, i worry also about the asbestos... and the smoke... I can tell you, I know it seems impossible, but maybe you could find someone to share with or can eventually get another apartment? I wish I could help more. I dont know much about the system up in canada for financial aid for renters :(

Curious who informed you about the asbestos though? Was it something you noticed? Or another tenant bring it up?

Glad Pepper is doing well.

My landlord said yes when I asked. My brother looked at the stairs and he said it is asbestos, but as long as no one grinds it into a powder it’s fine. The tile is starting to crack and chip away from the stairs. It’s about 1/8 inch thick. On top of the stairwell, Ceramic tiles were laid at some point, but the asbestos flooring is still exposed in strips in front of the doors because the tile doesn’t cover all of it. Plus many people don’t know they need to put down a cement-fibre backer when laying tiles over it.

I can’t get a picture and upload it because mobile is all I have atm, but this photo is exactly what the stairs and floor look like:

https://images.app.goo.gl/bv97Z8FXEJxfct7u5

P.S. My brother also confirmed it is abestos flooring. This building is 60 years old (or older).

Brief history of this crap in Canada:

In Canada, asbestos was banned in 1979, but non friable material was still produced and used right up until 1996. It wasn’t until 2009 that the government completely banned it (sales, trades, storage and imports). Drywall put up before 1990 will contain it, as well as insulation, tapes and in fire proofing material. It was also used in ducts and ventilation systems.

I researched this stuff a long time ago. It really is nasty :c

In my parents house, My dad is thinking about getting the flooring redone in the house, but since asbestos was stopped in 1979 but it was still used, they have to cover the flooring that they have instead of taking a chance. I’m sure my parents house contains it. It was built pre 1980

That's horrible that the guy (landlord) who spoke with you is trying to say he won't put anyone in harms way...he's just trying to avoid the problem in hopes of no lawsuit.

My brother said if I become sick because of it, I can sue

I grew up in a house LINED with it everywhere, even the siding was asbestos based. I'm living in a 1970s (this place needs some MAJOR updates) duplex that has it in the popcorn ceiling. Its only dangerous in specific conditions. It has to be being messed with (broken up, smashed etc etc) and become airborne to become the real issue. Like some stones we collect are dangerous in specific conditions so is asbestos.

As long as your landlord hires out someone trained in asbestos removal and clean up everything there should be fine. The fact you've already had issues handled and without any comments or sparky replies from them is good. My property management sucks horribly. Sometimes I put in a request for maintenance and its answered in less than 2 days, other times it seems to take months for the same stuff. So I learned how to do smaller repairs on my own and leave them notes when its bigger. Like right now I suspect I have a leak in my wall. Gonna give a note tomorrow and use damp rid and a heater in the room I suspect it's from until they reply.

This place seriously sounds much better than the last one. Did your last one ever get the moldy wall/ceiling fixed for you and your brothers units? If not you can turn him into housing board im sure if you are certain it wasn't handled.

Ok. That makes me feel a little bit better knowing it has to be legit crushed into powder to release the toxic fibres. I have no clue if it’s in the HAVC (I think?) system or if it’s in the ducts themselves. My new landlord wouldn’t answer.

This place is better mold wise and there’s no disgusting smell (like there was from the unclean people that were next door to me in my previous building), however there is a certain smell in here and it smells old. And whatever the guy has in his storage locker smells horrible. The smell reminds me of Creosote (which has also been banned. I’m not saying that’s what he had in his locker. My dad also picked up on the smell and said it’s like this chemical smell, so I said creosote and he agreed it smelled similar).

No. My previous slumlord couldn’t be bothered dealing with the heavy smoking and the mold in our units. When the new owners took over, they evicted the gross people (they let their cats pee everywhere) and the smokers chose to leave because of the rent increase. The cat piss people were hoarders and they never cleaned. Mold was everywhere and their hot water tank was leaking it rotted through 2 inches of floor. Their bathtub also rotted and started to break into the ceiling (they were underneath the smokers).

I like these people, but my unit should’ve been ready before I moved in. My original move in date was Sept 1, but they were pushing me out of my other apartment and it just so happened that my new building (that they also own), a renter left. So that’s how I got an apartment :)

You’ll also never believe what’s happening. My parents are being normal and my dad said he’d buy me a couch because the one I have couldn’t fit through the door and there was no way to make it fit.

Oh man, I feel you. The house I just bought was so shoddily renovated (house flippers -_-) they left all sorts of things unfinished or badly done, but I own the house now so it's up to ME to fix it! The other night our toilet stopped flushing and started backing up into the bathtub (gross) so I had to call an emergency plumber at 10pm, he had to remove my entire toilet and found out the issue was because someone (not any of us, someone who lived here before) had flushed a hairtie. A HAIRTIE.

Anyway I'm sorry everything seems to be falling apart but I'm glad your landlords are nice, and that your family is being helpful. It might take a while but it sounds like things will get fixed eventually, and it sounds so much better than your last place. I hope they were serious about the asbestos. The house I grew up in had asbestos insulation and my grandmother would never let us run heat because of it (and she taped trash bags over all the vents). Thankfully it never gets cold enough in that city to really need it.

You'll get used to the train, eventually it'll just become a thing that exists and not so jarring. I lived right next to train tracks for years and at first I was like WHAT THE HELL IS THAT but I got used to it fairly quickly, and for me it became almost a comforting noise. The town I just moved to also has trains that blare their horns all day and night and I'm just like, aww, train.

I agree, it's true you can definitely sue them. However by then, your health would be in a poor state. I hope you stay safe there. :/

Man. I feel for you. I can’t believe your toilet problems are all over a FREAKING HAIRTIE! I’ve flushed things down the toilet like paper towels and a bunch of q-tips that fell in and not once have I had a toilet backup. And I do admit that having it back up in the tub is gross.

Everything in this building is crooked, so when you hang things straight, it looks weird, but you know they’re straight.

My place was shoddily done as well. The flooring should’ve never been crooked, slopped or uneven. The patch jobs on the walls should’ve been sanded and not painted over. The closets should’ve been completed and the right Caulking for the tub surround should’ve been used. The stuff they used is so soft, it’s like putty and it’s just peeling off. I shouldn’t have to run out an buy silicone and the gun and scraper for it. I don’t own my unit. I rent it.

I’m also worried about the vents, but what can I do? I can’t afford anywhere else and to get onto the housing at will take more than 10 years and it’ll be worse than here. At least my landlords are good!

The trains blare their horns all day and night. I think “is it really fucking necessary to keep blaring it down the tracks after you’ve passed?” I think they can be a-holes and they know it, so they do it?

I went for a 3.2 mile walk to explore some of my area. There’s no walking trails here like I had back at home. It kind of sucks. My area basically looks like a ghetto. Houses are old and they need repairs. Apartments are old and they look sketchy.

I hope so too x.x

I hope they can at least get started on sorting this out soon. Honestly I hate moving and house hunting so much I'm glad I've been reasonably lucky with my previous and current living arrangements. The worst has just been someone in the building always setting off the fire alarm in the middle of the night... Oh university life. You have all my best wishes and positive vibes <3 I'm glad you can at least get some ranting out here.