After living in the same Toronto apartment for 50 years, elderly tenant Andras Henye is now facing what legal advocates are calling an unjust eviction. According to a report released by Everlex L.P.C., Henye is being removed from his longtime home at 111 Pacific Avenue in the High Park neighbourhood despite being fully up to date on rent and having no history of misuse or damage to the unit.
Everlex alleges the eviction is a “bad faith” move by Minto Apartment REIT, the building’s corporate owner. Henye, who is visually impaired and lives with multiple disabilities, has been struggling to secure fair treatment throughout the process. The agency claims that during a hearing at the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board, Henye was denied legal representation, was not granted an adjournment to find counsel, and was not allowed to cross-examine evidence presented against him.
The case has now been escalated to the Court of Appeal for Ontario—an uncommon step in landlord-tenant disputes. Legal representatives say Henye’s fight is not just about keeping his home, but about protecting the rights of vulnerable tenants across the province. The apartment, where he has lived since the 1970s, holds deep emotional significance as the place where he grew up, lost his parents, and built his life.
In a prepared statement, Henye said, “My home is my life. Losing it would mean losing everything, possibly my life. I simply want fair treatment and the right to live my life peacefully.”
The situation has drawn attention from fellow residents and tenant advocates. Melinda McInnes, president of the building’s tenants’ association, said Henye’s case is not unique. “I have seen countless REITovictions in my time,” she noted, referencing a growing trend of rental evictions carried out by corporate real estate investment trusts (REITs) allegedly to make way for higher rents.
INsauga reached out to Minto Apartment REIT for comment. While the company declined to speak about the specifics of the case, citing privacy laws, it confirmed that the legal dispute is ongoing.
No verdict has yet been issued by the Court of Appeal. However, Henye’s legal team believes the case could have a lasting impact on tenant protections in Ontario. Dr. Michael Motala, co-counsel on the case, said the outcome may set a precedent in how corporate landlords are held accountable for evictions deemed to be in bad faith.