Saskatoon man wins tenancy ruling and urges renters to know their rights

A Saskatoon tenant, Shane Prpich, won a Nov. 20 decision from the Office of Residential Tenancies awarding $1,265 after finding the landlord violated tenant protections and misled tenants.

Shane Prpich, a tenant in Saskatoon, brought a claim against his landlord after a series of maintenance and tenancy problems at his building. The Office of Residential Tenancies issued a decision on Nov. 20 ruling in Prpich's favour and awarded him $1,265 in damages. The agency criticized Prokey Living Ltd. for misleading tenants and for acting contrary to the Residential Tenancies Act. Key findings: - The ruling noted a unit connected to a death was not properly cleaned, which tenants said contributed to a pest problem in the building. - The hearing officer wrote that a 2023 notice from the landlord attempting to end periodic (month-to-month) tenancies was misleading and an unlawful effort to convert tenancies to fixed terms. - The Office found the landlord's rent increases met legal requirements, while noting a 33% rise over three years as a market reality referenced in the decision. - University of Saskatchewan law professor Sarah Buhler said the case shows many tenants may not know their rights and that fear of retaliation can deter tenants from raising complaints. Summary: The decision awarded damages and publicly criticized the landlord's conduct, and CBC had not received a response from Prokey Living before publication; any further legal or regulatory follow-up is undetermined at this time.