Owners of Fire-Damaged Vancouver Property Fight $1.6M Bill as Building’s Value Soars to $20M

A Vancouver couple whose apartment building was destroyed by two major fires is now battling a $1.6 million bill from the city, claiming they’re being unfairly targeted — even as the property’s value has skyrocketed.

Feng Yan and Fu De Ren, owners of the now-demolished 414 East 10th Avenue property in East Vancouver, were convicted last year for ignoring multiple fire safety orders. The building, which housed dozens of low-income tenants, was first gutted by fire in July 2023, leaving over 70 people homeless. A second blaze in 2024 prompted the city to demolish what remained, citing unsafe conditions and the couple’s failure to secure the site.

In court, Yan compared the property to a child. Prosecutor David Clements countered, asking what kind of parent would leave their “child” in ruins. The judge agreed, fining the couple $37,500 for their fire code violations and condemning their negligence.

Now, Yan and Ren are petitioning the B.C. Supreme Court to block the city from adding demolition and security costs to their property tax bill. Though a judge denied their request for an interim injunction, the case is ongoing. Ren has vowed to escalate the issue to municipal, provincial, and federal authorities.

According to court documents, the couple — who live in a $3.9 million West Side home — listed the East Van property itself as their mailing address, which is where the city sent all fire-related notices. Ren claims he never received them, insisting this procedural issue invalidates the city’s actions. A judge previously rejected the same argument in provincial court, where Ren’s courtroom interruptions led to him being escorted out by a sheriff.

In emails to CBC, Ren said they are being “wrongly accused” and argued that squatters — not their negligence — caused the fires. He said the city had a vendetta against him and claimed he’d spent more than most landlords on upkeep, despite court findings to the contrary.

The couple’s property troubles extend beyond Vancouver. Another of their properties — a $6.5 million lot in Burnaby — was also previously home to a fire-ravaged apartment building, which burned down in 2009 and again in 2013. The City of Burnaby has issued multiple bylaw violations there for debris and overgrown vegetation, and is pursuing enforcement.

Despite their ongoing legal battles, the East Vancouver lot’s value has surged. Purchased for $2.2 million in 2002, it’s now assessed at $20 million due to its location along the Broadway corridor, a prime redevelopment area. The lot is currently listed for sale at $15.8 million.

When asked in court whether they planned to benefit from the property’s increased value despite having neglected its safety, Yan deflected. “It’s the market that made the value increase — not me,” she said.

In sentencing last December, Judicial Justice Zahid Makhdoom called their actions a “wrongdoing that must be condemned,” adding that housing shortages shouldn’t excuse putting lives at risk.

“The task of the court is to denounce the wrongdoer,” he said. “And, respectfully, both yourself and your husband — you are wrongdoers.”

The couple has been granted an extension to pay the $1.6 million bill, now due at the end of September. The lot remains vacant, littered with debris, and surrounded by broken fencing. New bylaw charges are also pending.