A number of tenants in a West End apartment building are fighting to keep their units not just for themselves but for their pets as well.

The residents, according to Vancouver-Burrard NDP MLA Spencer Herbert, are contesting eviction notices issued to them by Hollyburn Properties, owner of the Emerald Terrace at 2045 Nelson Street.

Herbert told the Straight that the tenants were told to either get rid of their pets or move out.

“The argument that the tenants have is that previously they’ve been given verbal permission by the landlords and management,” Herbert said in a phone interview.

Herbert, a former park commissioner, will hold a press conference tomorrow (January 8) in front of Emerald Terrace, starting at noon.

Hollyburn Properties general manager Allan Wasel said that the building, which has a good view of Stanley Park, has always had a no-pets policy.

Hollyburn purchased the apartment more than a year ago, and, according to Wasel, the company is simply enforcing the policy.

Wasel said that 11 warning letters were issued. Two residents chose to move out. One letter was rescinded, as the resident concerned had written permission from the previous owner of the building.

Wasel said that based on the eviction notices handed out yesterday (January 6), the affected residents have until the end of February to move out.

Herbert said that the concerned residents will be contesting the eviction notices on January 16 before the Residential Tenancy Branch.

“The tenants feel that this just a way to get of rid them so they could double the rent because many of them are long-time tenants,” he said.