The City of Hamilton has granted the owner of 295 Melvin Avenue in East Hamilton an extension to comply with property standards orders.
The extension comes as tenants seek the City to enforce minimum property standards, and the landlord is marketing it for sale as a “solid investment property for repositioning to achieve market rents.“
The City’s municipal law enforcement division issued a property standards compliance notice on September 26 requiring exterior brick repairs, replacement of the building entry intercom system, repair to the west side emergency metal egress stairs, and repairs to the main lobby.
City lawyer Jennifer Vonk told the Property Standards Committee that city staff are of the opinion an enforcement order is not needed at this time.
“The owner of this property has been working to have these items repaired,” Vonk stated.
City staff stated required repairs have been made, with the exception of the intercom system.
Following the meeting’s adjournment, tenants held up a sign with photos that they said show the current condition of the building.
Tenants Juan Balandra, Kayla Leet, and a tenant who declined to provide their name, told the Committee that proper repairs have not been made, and asked for the City to issue an enforcement order.
“It’s not fixed,” Leet stated while pointing to photos being held up by Balandra. “This is what it looks like as of yesterday. They’re just metal ties holding the stairs in place. There is no intercom, they took it out, it’s been taken out for a bit.”
“This is seven plus years of neglect, and we need to hold people that do this accountable instead of giving them more time and more time.”
Leet is the chair of Hamilton ACORN’s east end chapter.
The remaining tenants in the building are all long-tenured and pay rents that are below what the owner could charge a new tenant.
Another tenant, who declined to provide her name, said “the worst thing is that the property is being put on the market with a clear signal the owner plans to displace tenants.”
“The ad of the real estate agent says it is a ‘wonderful opportunity to reposition’ because 14 or 15 units are already vacant,” they said. “This is going to be turned into someone else’s financialization project and those of us who still live there are going to wind up dumped out into the housing market desperately trying to find a place to live.”
The building is owned by Fataar Ltd, which is located at 3410 South Service Rd Unit 102 in Burlington. Numerous real estate corporations are registered to this address.
The corporation was not required to attend today’s hearing because City staff informed them in advance no compliance order would be sought.
If the City pursues an enforcement order, the earliest hearing would occur in mid-January 2026, with a compliance date of mid-to-late February.
Related: TheSpec reported on Hamilton’s renoviction bylaw today. The story is free to access.
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Published: November 26, 2025
Last updated: November 26, 2025
Author: Joey Coleman
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