Burnt Kensington Market house was investigated for fire code violations
The owner of a Kensington Market rowhouse ravaged by a two-alarm fire that forced one occupant to jump to safety from a second-storey window faces charges over alleged fire code violations.
Toronto Fire Services said it is pursuing fire code charges against Jianwen Tao, the owner of 39 Kensington Avenue, related to infractions it had uncovered when officials visited the house on July 29 and 30.
Officials said the home didn't have proper fire exits on the second storey, where the young woman had to jump from.
Greg Place, who has lived in the home for years, caught the woman who jumped. He had a role in running the home, although it's not clear what exactly he did.
CBC News has obtained a tenancy agreement signed by Greg and receipts that show he accepted first and last month deposits.
Place, however, refused to address claims that he indeed accepted first and last month's rent.
"That's neither here nor there," he said. "That's different — I mean, we can get into semantics ... What does the word 'landlord' mean? Does it mean owner of the house or does it mean the person in charge of the house?"
When asked if he was the landlord of the building, Place replied, "No, No." But he confirmed that Tao, who refused to speak with CBC News Thursday, owns 39 Kensington Avenue.
"I live here and sometimes when new tenants come in, I'll call myself the landlord — of course — to gain their respect," he said. "But officially, and if they do indeed pry, I say, 'No, I'm not actually the owner of the house.'"
'Please don't talk'
In its investigation, CBC News also uncovered emails from 2012 that reference a fire inspection at the home.
The subject of one email reads: "Re 39K: Please don't talk to City Fire Dept officials!"
The email address is the same one that's on the receipt for a rent deposit, and the emails are signed by Place.
"I guess they want to surprise Tao & I before we can complete the work," says one of the emails.
The message expresses concerns that fire officials could kick him and other residents out – and that Tao could be fined.
When questioned about the emails, Place said, "What they say is what they say. It's neither here nor there."
The cause of the blaze remains undetermined, though fire officials concluded it started on the couch on the second floor. Place said a smoke alarm woke him up on Thursday and he saw flames on a sofa in the kitchen, which is located on the second floor.
The house, which has been released to the owner to fix, is uninhabitable, as are three adjacent houses.
Det. Anthony Williams said sub-letting is legal but can get into "a major grey area."
Tao told police Place doesn't work for him in any capacity, Williams said.
But he said there were nine people living there — not four as was initially reported — and they have all been accounted for after the fire.
