Since moving into 68 Hillside Dr, there have been numerous incidents with the building representative, Ethel (who lives a door down directly across from the apartment I was in), that have left me feeling targeted and unsafe in my own home. The most notable and concerning experiences were:
* On September 13, 2022 - Ethel barged into my home with her master key without any notice. I was in a meeting that day as I work from home and I heard knocks on the door. As I wasnt expecting any guests, I did not answer my door. I few moments later, Ethel unlocked my door with the master key and was in the door with 1-2 other men who she mentioned was plumping, I was on my couch naked as well and felt so uncomfortable. She told me she gave notice on the door, however there wasn't any notice. My cousin has been staying with me in my unit and has been there even when I am not at home, I asked her if she saw or received notice, she let me know there wasn't a notice given or put on our door. Not only was this extremely uncomfortable for me, I feel extremely unsafe and this goes against my rights as a tenant. As a Trans person, I take my safety very seriously and this incident made me feel unsafe to live here.
* October 6, 2022 - My partner came by my apartment to drop my service dog off at my house to my cousin and I was alarmed of an inappropriate interaction that had happened between Ethel, my partner, and her little sister. Ethel harassed them as they were dropping off my dog. She then started calling my phone after 11pm, and when she didnt get through to me, she then emailed me demanded me to tell my partner to come back right away to my house and take my dog out of my unit. When I saw the email the next morning, I had advised Ethel that my dog was fine and that she has not been left there without supervision for an extended period of time as my cousin was at my house 10 mins after drop off. My partner and her little sister weren't making any noise but Ethel was very closely monitoring them at the apartment, and when asked why she started acting irrationally, yelling in the hallways etc. Her behaviour was very erratic and disproportionate for the situation and caused my guests (one of whom was a minor) to feel very scared. Additionally, often times that I've had guest (Black folks and people of colour), come to my apartment, they've noted similar and uncomfortable reactions.
In addition, instead of speaking to me she has harassed and threatened my guarantor to pay up on rent, even though she confirmed with me on the extension on submitting payment. This has been the third time she's complained to my gurantor without addressing me about the unit. I believe this is due to discrimination as I am a Black Trans disabled individual and my gurantor is white cis-man. She has not spoken to me at all regarding the unit that I pay for but instead calls my gurantor and threatens him about the unit and to tell him all the issues she has with me living there. I find this to be very inappropriate. I've addressed to Ethel that I was her first point of contact in regards to the rent and that everything should be brought to me first and that if for whatever reason she was not able to get a hold of me then I would understand why she'd feel the need to message my guarantor. She also has my email address which I've asked her to message me from now on so that there's a track record of all of this. She does not email me and I believe she doesnt want a track record of what she's been doing.
I've reached out to management but they have done zero about it.
I also came home from after their "inspection" and they left the walls open and mice came into my unit, chew up things and pooped all over the floors. Couldn't believe.
Due to not only these reasons, I do not feel safe or comfortable living at this building. I am beyond exhausted with the constant racism, discrimination and micro-aggressions not only with me but with my guests. I deserve to live in a place where I feel physically and psychologically safe in. read more