Tenants evicted from Niagara Falls motel a day before major snowstorm

Tenants of a Niagara Falls motel that offered daily, weekly and monthly rates were ushered out over the weekend, a day before the major snowstorm.

Hydro had been cut off by the owner of the America’s Hospitality Inn (formerly called America’s Best Inn & Suites) at 7070 Lundy’s Lane back in early January as he attempted to get tenants out, saying the motel needed major renovations.

Tenants refused to leave, relying on generators and candle to stay warm in their rooms.

They held off until the Niagara Fires issued a Fire Marshall’s order for closure, citing the unsafe living situation at the premise.

On Saturday (January 15), fire officials and security guards were on the scene to get the tenants out. They had earlier posted a notice on the front office saying they believed there were “reasonable grounds to believe that a risk of fire posed an immediate threat to life.”

Motel owner Gurmeet Singh told local media outlets he felt the motel needed major renovations and alleged that some tenants were there illegally.

It is believed that most of the tenants were shuttled to shelters once the city was forced to jump into landlord-tenant dispute through the fire department’s intervention.