The tenants of the Ariela residential complex have felt disadvantaged for several months due to the Huot Group’s financial problems. Your luxury apartment offers breathtaking views of a huge concrete crater and an ocean of gravel that isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon.
Danielle Aubin and Michel Poirier pay $2,500 every month for their 4 1⁄2 apartment in what will become the Huot Group’s most luxurious rental apartment complex in Les Méandres.
Although their apartment forms the corner of the building, they only use half of their balcony as the east facade allows them to admire all the splendor of Quebec City.
“We never go to the other side because it’s too terrible,” complains Ms. Aubin, pointing out the abandoned foundations of the grand complex’s second phase.
Tenants of the luxurious Ariela complex, which belonged to the Huot Group, have a breathtaking view of a huge upcoming construction site for the modest sum of $2,500 per month. Photo Vincent Desbiens
Mirage
They sold their home to move into the “condo of their dreams” in November 2022, with a two-and-a-half-year lease in hand.
The brochure she addressed mentioned several services: indoor and outdoor pools, gym, spa, virtual indoor golf lounge, etc.
“All they supplied was a covered parking space and there was only one electric charging point that we had to share. […] We pay for services we may never receive. We live in no man’s land,” notes Michel Poirier.
The Ariela rental apartment complex was abandoned by the Huot Group during construction. Some plywood panels are still visible. Photo Vincent Desbiens
Without recourse
Mr Poirier has taken action at the Administrative Housing Tribunal. However, his recourse is limited because the rental agreement signed by him and his wife does not list any of the advertised services among the services.
“There is no official date for when services should be available to residents. It was just hearsay and conversations, he complains. They were very careful not to get their fingers into the twister…”
Other tenants Le Journal met say they are happy with their apartment but are angry when they think about all the services they don’t have access to.
The tenants of the Ariela, a complex managed by an insolvency administrator after the bankruptcy of the Huot Group, are desperately waiting for the place to be taken over by an investor who will complete the construction of their building. Photo Vincent Desbiens
No change on the horizon
Since the bankruptcy of the Huot Group, many rental complexes, including Ariela, have been managed by an insolvency administrator.
The Mach Group, which is set to acquire several residential complexes in the empire in the coming weeks, has not included Ariela in its purchase offer.
The latter will therefore remain under the direction of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton until further notice.
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