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The lack of irrigation last summer causing the drying out of newly laid lawns, and the snow removal tractor's off-trail excursions mean that, with the arrival of spring, many areas on the Rockhill grounds have turned to mud, giving it the appearance of a construction site, rather than a property about which the Montreal Heritage Council said in 2013:

"The CPM considers it important that a landscaping management plan be implemented (...) in order to preserve the landscape qualities of the place in the medium and long term."

and about the "Contribution to the project for conservation of Mont-Royal":

"The layout should take more into account the fact that part of the site is located in the buffer zone surrounding the Oratory Woods."

(see l'avis de Réaménagement des espaces extérieurs - Appartements Rockhill)

In the face of such a disaster, one can only denounce the administration's lack of concern for Rockhill's green vocation. We demand that Minto take its ecological responsibilities seriously and dismiss contractors who are negligent with respect to landscaping!

Now that the last snow is behind us, the debris from what were still garden lamps last year are scattered all over the grounds, giving it a post-apocalyptic and neglected look that matches the presence of graffiti, cigarette butts, and mud. The administration tells us that decisions about suppliers are made in Ottawa, so they cannot decide whether or not to take them back next year. We are assured that very serious warnings have been given, however - which seems to indicate that they will have another chance to destroy the new lamps supposed to replace these.

Graffiti that appeared more than a month ago on the walls of Rockhill has still not been cleaned up, contributing to the neglected appearance of the grounds and raising concerns about the presence of people with anti-social behavior on the premises.

One of the graffiti was made on the wall next to the security office, which seems to indicate a laxity with respect to illicit activities happening right under the nose of security.

Another graffiti was observed near the main entrance of building C - as a welcome for those coming to the rental office?

It is recognized that the lack of urgency in making repairs and cleaning the property encourages antisocial behaviors and contributes to the frustration and feeling of insecurity among tenants who must see this deterioration every day with no apparent interest from the administration.

For Minto REIT, whose business model consists of buying rental properties and increasing their value through improvements to the buildings and apartments, it is contradictory to allow the deterioration of common areas and infrastructures to accumulate.

The administration must act immediately to send a clear signal that such misdemeanors will not be tolerated, to avoid the complex to start having the appearance of a hang-out for a street gang!

The lone security guard for the six buildings at Rockhill is placed in an impossible situation, especially on Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Tenants must call multiple times for assistance while the guard is overwhelmed by numerous situations he must face alone without support, sometimes among several people who may be intoxicated and looking for conflict. In an aggressive situation, the presence of a second guard could help calm things down and/or provide assistance.

It is the responsibility of the landlord to provide peaceful enjoyment of the housing, including ensuring that tenants are not disturbed by other tenants in the building. (see the article from Éducaloi)

Several tenants have also reported that when they are bothered by the smells of tobacco or marijuana, the security service says they are unable to investigate where the smell is coming from. They also say they are unable to follow up with the police as they would not investigate a single isolated case.

Regardless, Minto cannot shirk their responsibility for problems that are common in rental buildings, under penalty of being asked for a rent reduction for loss of enjoyment.

Minto really outdid itself in March and April to inform us of numerous elevator breakdowns:

• 9 May F one elevator
• 30 April B #3
• 24 April F all elevators
• 12 April A #2 #3
• 9 April B #3
• 5 April B #3
• 4 April B #2
• 2 April B #2 et #3
• 1 April B #2 et #3
• 28 March B #1 et #2
• 27 March B #1 et #2
• 26 March B #2
• 22 March A #2
• 19 March B #2
• 18 March B #1 #2 #3 (voluntary shutdown in broad daylight)
• 16 March: A #2, B #2, E #2
• 13 March B #2

This abundance of emails creates some confusion in the information. It's never certain which elevators are operational at any given time, given the frequency of breakdowns. The information about the cause of the breakdowns is not transparent, but it seems that since the connection of the new alarm system, the breakdowns have become more frequent. However, with leases ending in April, May, and June, it will be essential to keep the elevators running to allow for moves without slowing down or blocking access for tenants and emergency teams during this time.

There have been failures of elevators in the past, as with any mechanical devices. However, since the beginning of 2023, the elevators have been breaking down at an unprecedented rate. However, since the beginning of 2023, breakdowns have occurred at a frequency never seen before, which can only be understood as the result of a change in maintenance and management conditions, the visible proof of which is the neglected appearance of the interiors, including the long-standing and never repaired vandalism of panels and buttons.

A 20-story building without an elevator is like an airplane without engines or a grocery store without electricity: it's not a viable business. For people to live here, Minto must urgently restore stability to the elevators!

On Friday, March 8, 2024, in the late afternoon, several tenants of building F were assaulted by pungent and toxic chemical fumes.

The security guard was contacted, but since the administration had left for the weekend and the guard was not informed of the work being carried out, there was nothing he could do except send a report to his superior, the building manager.

Contacted by one of the tenants who was at their wit's end due to the intense and irritating smell, the CLR sent an email to the Rockhill managers. Fortunately, Mr. Contarini, the Regional Director of Minto Apartments for Montreal, quickly responded and sent the building manager, who had the necessary information to resolve the situation. It was caused by a contractor who had applied varnish in one of the apartments without ensuring adequate ventilation, especially in winter because it is more complicated to ensure good ventilation due to the cold outside which could potentially affect the water pipes.

The Rockhill Tenants Collective witnessed a tremendous turnout at their Monday evening meeting, indicating a heightened community engagement. The collective was heartened by the mix of returning attendees and new faces, a testament to the community’s solidarity and commitment. There were many comments reflecting the value in bringing together a diverse group of tenants united by common interests.

Central to the meeting was the pressing topic of rent increases, particularly affecting leases renewing at the end of April and renewing May 1st, which are subject to a 4.5% hike. This amount stands in stark contrast to renewals in June and July, which the administration has said were calculated at 6.74% but are effectively 5.95%. Clarifications were made regarding September renewals, emphasizing that increases determined by the Tribunal Administratif du Logement are based on the calendar year and not the fiscal year, dispelling misconceptions and confirming that tenants will face the same rate increase should they seek recourse through the fixation process. Tenants were urged to ask the administration for explanations.

The tenants voiced their frustration with the opaque nature of financial communications from the property management. Despite assurances of transparency, crucial data on rent increments remains undisclosed, leaving tenants in a state of unease and uncertainty.

The collective acknowledges that while rent increases are a natural aspect of the housing market, the willingness of tenants to adapt is contingent on the quality of services provided, the maintenance of the property, and the overall respect shown to them. There is a clear consensus that the current administration has fallen short in these areas.

A question was raised as to the relationship between the Collective and another organization called the Rockhill Residents Association. There is no relationship and the two groups have different purposes. The Collective is a a group of tenants volunteering to help each other by sharing information and engaging with management, without any formal membership or fees. The collective aims to be a space for exchange and discussions among residents with the goal of promoting the resolution of local housing issues, community spirit, and overall well-being.

The Rockhill Residents Association (ARR) is an incorporated non-profit organization whose goal is to protect the rights and interests of its members, financed by annual membership fees. On their website, the ARR indicate that "Our main mandate is to maintain yearly rent increases at a fair and reasonable rate (increases up by 21% over 10 years) and to claim financial compensations for trouble and inconveniences suffered from major construction works still ongoing."

This meeting has solidified the Rockhill Tenants Collective's resolve to advocate for better living conditions and transparent communication from property management. The collective stands united and continues to strive for an environment where respect and quality service form the cornerstone of their tenancy.

Tenants are being billed amounts that, upon simple verification, are found to be incorrect. What's even worse, they discover this through an aggressive formal notice, or receiving a telephone call when the tenant is traveling.

According to an administration spokes person, a formal notice is sent immediately before any verification. This approach is unnecessarily aggressive and counterproductive: it causes stress, hassle, time losses, and various expenses (e.g., legal consultations), in addition to creating a sense of distrust towards the administration.

It is essential for Rockhill to ensure the accuracy of the amounts before bothering honest tenants with formal notices accompanied by threats of legal action, when it is unjustified. Furthermore, when tenants reject increases deemed excessive, Rockhill must make a note of this in the client file management system to avoid harassing tenants by prematurely demanding sums before the lease adjustment session.