BC family denied apartment set to make case at human rights tribunal
A family of four in BC was denied tenancy in a two-bedroom apartment allegedly because of the number of people in their family.
They filed a complaint and will appear in front of the BC Human Rights Tribunal to make their case against the company that denied them the rental.
Ewa Ciesielska saw an advertisement for a two-bedroom apartment owned by Eagle Crest Apartments and made an appointment to view the place, according to a Dec. 8 tribunal decision.
When Ciesielska spoke with a building manager she told them she had two kids who would share a room.
The apartment was about the same size as the one her family was currently living in and the rent was $500 a month cheaper.
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Ciesielska was with her husband and two children for the appointment to view the apartment and were told by Eagle Crest that it would not rent to them because a maximum of three people are allowed in a two-bedroom apartment.
Ciesielska filed a complaint with the tribunal, and Eagle Crest followed up with an application to dismiss the complaint.
Ciesielska argued she was discriminated against based on her family status.
Eagle Crest said its maximum occupancy limit has nothing to do with family status and is applied to everyone equally.
“The only reason given for the refusal to show the apartment was the size of Mrs. Ciesielska’s family. There is no question that family status includes the size and composition of a family,” the decision said.
The tribunal denied the building’s application to dismiss the complaint which means the case will be heard.
The decision to dismiss does not say when that hearing will take place.
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