Protect yourself from getting caught in a lease with an insect infested apartment!

According to Hamilton Legal aid, you can write into the contract/tenancy lease that your contract is null and void should there be a problem with an insect infestation (particularly if you have been told that there has never been a problem with insects and you suspect otherwise, or the building has a bad reputation). This will hold legally! Make sure both parties have signed their own copy.

How to tell if the building has had insect problems?

Health & Property standards (City)does regular inspections – you can obtain these records.

Also, to check for the presence of bedbugs in a building you are interested in renting, check out the Bedbug Registry online http://bedbugregistry.com/location/ON/L8P/Hamilton/200-Bay-St-S

Avoid Camelot Towers, 1001 Main St W Hamilton

This was unfortunately my building at the time this was posted. I was told there have been no insect problems when I inquired about renting, and I had no choice but to trust as I was moving from another province to Hamilton to attend McMaster University and couldn't fly back and forth from the West coast to look at buildings.

To date, I have had problems with cockroaches for the past year (apt 216 - 1001 building), even though I keep everything very clean and dry. Several other people on the 2nd floor & one person I know of on the 6th floor have reported cockroaches as well. My apartment AND the whole building have been treated by pest control, my apartment has been treated 4 times alone.

And now, the property management, Avcan Management, wants to raise my rent. My request in writing to them to not raise my rent in lieu of the fact that I am living with cockroaches has been refused.

AVOID CAMELOT TOWERS!!!!!!!