Health Services orders tenants of Rocky View County property to vacate

Occupants of a Rocky View County property, at 167 Shore Drive, have been ordered to vacate by Alberta Health Services due to numerous health and safety concerns.

The order was issued on Nov. 12 and cited an inspection that took place which discovered conditions that are or could become injurious or dangerous to the public health or might hinder in any manner the prevention or suppression of disease.

Thirty-two health violations were listed including water stains and mould growth around a skylight as evidence of a leak. A large water bubble was also found in the ceiling of a basement bedroom, indicating accumulation of water.

During the inspection, the furnace was turned off and a space heater was being used to heat areas of the house. The inspector was unable to verify if the furnace was in good working condition.

Water and sewage was also found to be an issue. Sewage was being pumped out of the septic tank with a hose into a nearby field and the cistern that supplies water to the house had a buildup of algae. The inspector was unable to verify potability of the water supply.

The home did not have working smoke alarms, and there were exposed electrical wires protruding from open outlets, walls, and floors throughout the house. Several appliances weren't working or missing, and a non-surge protected electrical outlet was found at the bottom of the window beside a bathtub.

Bedroom windows were found to be too small for emergency egress, some couldn't open, and some basement bedrooms didn't have windows. An ad-on bedroom had no insulation, and several other structural issues were noted. Holes were found in walls, paint was peeling off, and wall trimming and electrical covers were missing. 

Outside, there were issues with faulty and missing deck guard rails and hand rails, and the deck itself.

Based on these findings, AHS declared the residence unsafe for tenant accommodation, requiring all occupants to vacate by November 22.

The order included a list of required repairs that would have to be fixed to the satisfaction of an Executive Officer of Alberta Health Services. Until then the premises will remain closed for tenant accommodation purposes.

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