Penticton apartment feuds over excessive cleaning practices

Photo: Dale Cory

The COVID-19 crisis has everyone concerned with social distancing, and many obsessed with cleaning.

That obsession has played out on a small scale at an apartment building in Penticton.

“I shouldn’t be getting a call from my landlord saying, ‘hold back on the cleaning,'" is what Chad Stevenson, who lives at 774 Winnipeg Street, is all riled up about. 

He called Castanet recently after receiving two phone calls, which he claims were verbal warnings from Associated Property Group telling him to stop cleaning the hallways, doorways and other shared spaces of the building or face consequences including potentially being evicted.

“Shame on Associated Property Management, shame on whoever in the building called in and complained that I help clean,” said Stevenson.

But the property group other tenants disagree with his characterization, saying he has been using undiluted bleach. 

“No warnings were given to him. Warnings need to be written. And there’s no reason to evict him. I did thank him for cleaning. All I said was, 'please don’t use straight bleach',” said Denise Russo, a licensed property manager with Associated Property Group who manages the building.

“We have a caretaker sanitizing the entire building. I’ve got emails from tenants saying they cannot breathe, and please do something about it.”

Kelly Allies is one of those unhappy tenants.

“Nobody here appreciates his help. I went out of my apartment and you could not imagine the smell of bleach,” said Allies. ”I appreciate he says he was trying to do his part. But we have a caretaker who goes through the building with his anti-bacterial cleanser that doesn’t offend anybody.”

Stevenson has been living in his apartment for about five years. New owners took over two years ago. According to him, they’ve been trying to evict him since then, for what he says is over-cleaning.

Stevenson says he has routinely cleaned his door handle, the hall railings and hallway.

“I do know there were some complaints put in because of the extremely strong bleach smell. There’s people in this building that have breathing problems,” said Ken, the on-site manager. “That’s not his job. He’s a tenant here. I do the cleaning in this building twice a day. I disinfect door knobs and handrails with my own products that I buy through the store.

Ken’s concern, along with those of other tenants, appears to be with the bleach being used.

“I certainly don’t use straight bleach. That’s burning the follicles in your lungs. You have to dilute it 10 to 1. Anybody will tell you that,” Ken said. “He’s going in there with straight bleach. It burns my face.”

Given the COVID-19 crisis, Stevenson feels his extra cleaning is warranted.

“During this pandemic I have stepped up my cleaning. Most of the people in the building will thank me,” he insisted. “I got called twice today — two complaints stating that I have been seen helping clean the door knobs and hand railings within one hour.”

The on-site manager says 774 Winnipeg St. is a clean, and sterilized building.

“We do appreciate his efforts in trying to help,” summarized Ken. “But, nobody has asked him to help, and I’m pretty sure I’m doing a sufficient enough job. I have not had any complaints from anybody.”