Mould and mouse droppings: Calgary mother says she can't afford to leave 'nightmare' rental home as prices skyrocket

The city's rental prices are continuing to rise at an alarming rate, and regular Calgarians are feeling the impact.

According to website Rentals.ca, the average rental price increased 14.3 per cent from September 2022 to September 2023.

The charge was led by especially huge jumps in the cost for bachelor apartments and three-bedroom rentals.

Single mom Dakota Klaiber-Desjarlais says she's feeling the pinch.

"It's really frustrating," she told CTV News. "I'm trying to get out of (my current house), but I can't afford it."

Single mom Dakota Klaiber-Desjarlais says she's feeling the pinch.

RENTER WOES

Klaiber-Desjarlais moved out of a women's shelter into a northwest rental property last September.

But since moving in, she claims various problems have kept her and her three children from feeling healthy and safe inside the Silver Springs home.

Her family is an example of how the rental increases are squeezing low-income Calgarians.

"I'm trying to get out of here," she said. "I'm trying my best. But because I'm on government assistance, it's extremely hard to be able to afford to move."

Klaiber-Desjarlais says one of her children has compromised lungs, and the condition keeps her from working.

Dakota Klaiber-Desjarlais moved out of a women's shelter into a northwest rental property last September. But since moving in, she claims various problems have kept her and her three children from feeling healthy and safe inside the Silver Springs home.

 Her limited finances – paired with her parenting duties – have forced her to wait out what she calls "a nightmare" scenario inside her rental.

"There's so many problems here," she told CTV News this week. "But my landlord isn't listening to us (when we contact him)."

On Monday, after months of concerns, Klaiber-Desjarlais asked Alberta Health Services to conduct an Environmental Public Health Report.

A provincial inspector found eight citations, including two critical problems that the landlord was ordered to fix immediately.

The list of issues is a long one.

It includes surface mould, mouse droppings, missing smoke alarms, visible larvae, and loose light fixtures and ceiling vents.

A provincial inspector found eight citations, including two critical problems that the landlord was ordered to fix immediately.

 But unfortunately for her, for now, Klaiber-Desjarlais says her options are limited.

She estimates her rent would increase about 50 per cent if she left. That's just not doable.

"I am absolutely drained at this point and feel so frustrated," she said.

LANDLORD RESPONDS

Landlord Abdul Fazel has been ordered to remedy the issues found by AHS.

When reached by a reporter Wednesday, he denied an on-camera interview request and refused to acknowledge that his rental was in various stages of disrepair.

On Thursday, four days after originally being contacted by CTV News, he sent a statement placing most of the citation blame on Klaiber-Desjarlais.

He claims that much of the damage is a result of a summer flood and that he's spent thousands fixing flooring in the home.

Fazel sent recent text message exchanges that show the mother asking to extend her lease. He believes they're contradictory to claims from Klaiber-Desjarlais that his property is unsuitable for her family.

She argues they only further illustrate her dire financial situation.

Fazel says he "has consistently worked to promptly address all tenant concerns and ensure comprehensive repairs" – a claim heavily disputed by Klaiber-Desjarlais. His statement says ongoing repairs are being completed.