Two young men who rented rooms in a house on Cote des Neiges are feeling ripped off by the short term rental company Roominex.
They say the company advertised a beautiful house on Kijiji across from the Montreal General but they wound up moving into a slum.
Michael Estrela says as soon as he moved in he knew that he'd made a mistake.
"They started telling me stories about the hydro," he says. "'It's going to be fixed before the end of the week, don't worry it wont be more than 5 days without power.'"
An employee of the company said the owners and Hydro are squabbling over electricity rates and Hydro cut power to the building, so the company ran a series of extension chords from the neighbours house into the home to power lamps.
There was no heating, and regular access to hot water for the duration of Estrela's stay, and Hydro Quebec and the Rental board both said it didn't sound safe to stay in the house.
"They said to get the hell out of there," he says. "So I said listen this is crazy, you have to give me back my money. They said 'no'."
Roominex refused to reimburse the full amount of his rent and damage deposit and an employee tells CJAD that it's because he damaged and stole from the house.
CJAD Legal expert Chris Dimakos says that's not above-board.
"It is illegal to ask for a deposit on an apartment in Quebec," he says. "It is also illegal to ask for a minimal fee for keys... although both often take place."
Another tenant, Michael Cohen, says he wants a refund as well.
"I would like my money back for sure," says Cohen. "There's no electricity, there's no heat, it's dark and it's scary."
He says the company won't refund him either, though they have not accused him of causing damage or theft.
Roominex will not go on the record — but Montreal police are investigating their robbery report.