BEAVER BANK: Residents of the Woodbine Trailer Park are appealing a proposed rent increase that could see them paying $20 more come Jan. 1, 2011.
Those living in the park’s 600-plus mobile homes recently began receiving notices of the rent increase from the park’s landlord, Heather Scott with Westphal Mobile Homes Court Limited. The rent increase, which could bring a $120,000 into Westphal’s accounts, has to be approved by the Nova Scotia Residential Tenancy Board, and that is who the residents are appealing to in the hopes the board won’t pass the increase.
Scott has declined to comment on the issue.
After receiving the notices, people went to the Woodbine Family Association (WFA), a group that looks at ways to make the park better. WFA Chair Robert Hickey said the association has planned a June 10 meeting, beginning at 7 p.m., at Brown Hall in Beaver Bank. The WFA will have resources available to help those with concerns.
“The rent has been steadily increasing in the past few years,” Hickey said. “Services have been less and less. Some things have been taken away. They’ve been less forward in supplying other things like gravel for the driveway. Some people have been told to not even ask for it.”
He said there is a spot on the form to tell residents the reason behind the rent increase. It is left blank.
“The last three increases have had nothing in the reason spot,” Hickey added. “We feel it’s not justified. We feel that it’s unfair to be asking for more money from people and offering less service”
Hickey said the association is acting as a mediator for residents and isn’t mandated to fight the park because the two work together on other projects that are aimed at sprucing up the park for its residents. For example, they just built a playground in conjunction with the park’s landlord.
“Starting a fight with management is not a way to improve the park,” Hickey said.
Keith Barrett is one of those residents who is concerned about a rent increase, especially what considering what he calls a reduction in services. Residents have been told to fix potholes and maintain the park themselves – and to pay for it.
“Residents have been asking for soil, gravel, different things to be repaired,” Barrett said. “They were destroyed during the winter. When they ask, they’re told no, they have to pay for it themselves.”
He said it’s discouraging to see the landlord of the park being so reluctant to make the repairs.
“We’re losing a lot of tenants,” he added. “We have about 60-80 trailers in the park here that are empty. Nobody is coming in and buying or renting because of the simple reason the raise in the lot rent is too high. You can’t compare it along with the mortgage they have to pay if they buy the trailer. It’s not reasonable no more (to live at the trailer park).”
A woman who answered the phone at Westphal Mobile Homes Court Limited, said they would not be commenting when contacted June 1 by The Laker.
phealey@enfieldweeklypress.com