Students could be banned from renting in a south Ottawa condominium development after its board passed a new rule.
The condos, across the street from the South Keys mall, are changing their regulations so that only family members can move into a unit when tenants move out.
This means that students would have to share payments between one less person or give up their condo.
"I honestly think we'd have to sell the place," said Grace Protopapas, who owns a condo with three other students.
Tenants said the new rule has divided the development.
"In a sense we are family," said Ashley Fairbarn, a student who has lived in the condo for three years. "We do everything together to the point we have community meals."
"I feel it's discrimination, they're singling out a group of people," said Lauren Mitsuki.
Others said the rule isn't aimed at students, but those who run illegal boarding houses.
"It's ludicrous what's going on," said Gaelan Hart. "This is not a rooming community, it's a family community."
"It's changing dramatically and we'd like it to go back to the family way of life," said Dorothy Sadler, who has lived there for 36 years.
CTV Ottawa spoke to the head of the condo corporation who said there's precedent for defining "family" this way in Sudbury.
Students said they're hoping to raise enough opposition to the rule to have it challenged.
"If this sets precedent that communities can keep and kick students out, which one won't?" said Nicholas McLeod. "That's the issue."
If 15 per cent of owners push for a vote on the rule, the law won't take effect in November as scheduled.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr
