After an Alberta Health Services (AHS) inspection of a property in West Rocky View County found uninhabitable conditions, it ordered the premises to close and for tenants to vacate.
The closure order, issued on April 25 on the Calgary Zone Health Enforcement Orders website, lists the address 242089 Range Road 32, just west of the City of Calgary.
Existing conditions are or may become injurious or dangerous to the public health, stated AHS in the order.
Occupants are told to vacate the premises by May 31, 2024 and the owner must immediately undertake the completion of work to meet standards requested in the order.
AHS lists 17 breaches of the Public Health Act, including garbage and debris throughout the home, non functioning utilities, and damage to the building.
According to the inspection, the home was not equipped with a functional furnace, instead portable electrical space heaters were the primary source for heating. The electrical system and panel did not appear to be in good condition with improper electrical switches and outlets.
Light fixtures were missing throughout the house with exposed wiring and the floors, walls, door frames, and ceilings contained cracks and holes.
There were no kitchen facilities and access to a flush toilet or bathing facilities was blocked by debris and garbage bags to the ceiling. The order also stated the building had no plumbed fixtures available to access running water for drinking, bathing, or cooking.
"Tenant was collecting the water from the pressure tank directly located in the basement area," the order stated. "Potability of water system could not be verified."
There was also no hot water supply to the home.
Plastic tarps and exterior siding covered a missing window and foundation materials were exposed. The window in the bedroom used for sleeping was not able to be opened and was obstructed from the inside and outside.
The order also noted other areas where debris and garbage bags were piled.
The document listed specifically how these conditions breach the Public Health Act and the Housing Regulation, Alberta Regulation 173/99 and the Minimum Housing and Health Standards and the Nuisance and General Sanitation Regulation, Alberta Regulation 243/2003.
The owner was ordered to work on all the issues identified and the property is to remain closed for tenant accomodation purposes until the work is completed to the satisfaction of an Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services.
