A landlord from North York has been arrested and faces multiple charges following a heated rental dispute property in Guelph.
On Tuesday afternoon, Guelph police responded to a south-end residence where the landlord reported that a tenant was moving out and had allegedly threatened to kill him if he interfered with the tenant’s belongings.
However, upon investigation, authorities discovered that the tenant was not actually planning to vacate the property. The dispute between the landlord and tenant is currently under review by the Landlord and Tenant Tribunal.
According to police, the landlord took several actions that exacerbated the situation. He changed the locks on the property and allegedly sent the tenant a photo of an individual—later identified as the landlord’s brother—dressed in a jacket marked “Police” and holding paperwork. This was reportedly intended to deceive the tenant into believing he had no legal right to remain in the residence.
Further complicating matters, the landlord reportedly obstructed the police investigation by falsely claiming that a relative was living in the house.
As a result of these actions, a 54-year-old North York man has been charged with mischief, obstructing police, and intimidation. The situation underscores the importance of adhering to legal processes in rental disputes and highlights the potential consequences of unlawful actions in such conflicts.
The case remains under investigation as the legal proceedings continue.
