A GROUP of residents are being threatened with eviction a day after Christmas over the installation of security cameras outside their properties.
Conflict has arisen within the Caldwell First Nation community in Leamington, Ontario, Canada, concerning the installation of private security cameras on the property.
Leaders of the ancestral reserve, Caldwell First Nation, have expressed concerns about eight tenants violating their lease agreements, specifically by drilling holes or attaching objects to the exterior of their residences.
Chief Nikki van Oirschot emphasized the importance of tenants honoring the privacy of their neighbors, urging them to abide by established rules and expectations.
Several tenants complained to the reserve’s leadership officials that the personal security cameras have made them “uncomfortable.”
Unlike most communities, the property of Caldwell First Nation is designed with some units backing onto each other or positioned in close proximity to one another.
“[This] means that actions taken in or around one unit can directly impact the privacy and well-being of neighboring residents,” the notice read, according to the Windsor Star.
“It is a condition of occupation and tenancy to adhere strictly to the lease agreement, which clearly stipulates that no drilling of any kind is permitted into the units.
“Violations of this clause are taken very seriously and will result in appropriate action being taken to address these breaches.”
Yet, the tenants who are being threatened with eviction said they were granted permission to install the security cameras.
“We were told we could install the cameras in our house and aim them at our door,” Mary Anne Kenney told the outlet.
“But what good is that going to do to whatever’s happening outside?
“We have spent a lot of money on brand new stuff to move in here.”
Kenney told the outlet that she installed three cameras outside her unit in August – two surveillance cameras and a doorbell camera.
She said the cameras were installed with the knowledge of Caldwell First Nation’s housing manager.
However, on October 21, several residents, including Kenney, received a 48-hour notice requiring them to remove all the security cameras on their properties.
“We feel like we are being targeted,” Kenney added.
“I’m going to fight it, and I know I am not alone.”
“We’ve never seen any complaints. We never heard anybody verbally complain to us about it,” resident Douglas Heil told CBC News.
“What are we supposed to believe?”
Heil said he and his fellow neighbors sought permission from the project manager, who told them, “It’s not going to hurt anything.”
“There’s no paperwork to back anything up,” he added.
EVICTION WARNING
Despite the tenants’ supposed confirmation, a second notice was sent to them on November 1, underscoring their breach of Caldwell First Nation’s tenancy agreement.
The notice, according to the Windsor Star, warned residents that the cameras would need to be removed within 15 days of the notice or that they would face the potential for eviction.
On November 26, several residents took to social media to share that they had received a third note, but only this time, they were eviction notices.
“You have been provided two prior notices of your default in accordance with the Tenancy Agreement and have been afforded a reasonable opportunity to remedy your default,” the eviction notice read, according to the Windsor Star.
“You have failed to remedy your default. Pursuant to s.16.4 of the Tenancy Agreement, this notice will constitute your third and final notice to remove the security cameras installed and return the unit to its original condition.”
The notice added that if the cameras are not removed, the tenants must vacate their properties by noon on December 26.
Kenney told the Windsor Star that she and her fellow residents are eager to resolve the issue with the property owners.
“We’ve adjusted our cameras so they are not pointed toward anyone’s windows,” Kenney said.
“That was never the case but we lowered them anyways.”
The Caldwell First Nation did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The U.S. Sun.
