Waterloo's director of municipal bylaw enforcement says the owner of a derelict Waterloo apartment building with water damage, mould problems and electrical issues could face charges.

"Eventually the owner could face charges, or have the work done and have it charged back to them," said Jim Barry, the director of municipal bylaw enforcement, in an interview with Craig Norris on The Morning Edition Monday.

Tenants from three units in the building had have to leave their apartments because their electrical systems are deemed too dangerous. On Friday, remaining tenants found notices on their doors saying their building was in violation of Waterloo's property standards by-law.

"We've been working with partners in the community, social services, Red Cross, Lutherwood, just to make sure we had a plan in place in case there was tenants put out on the street," said Barry. He says the city has been working with the owner, Terry Good, to make sure the building is being repaired properly.

Rob Pearce, the former property manager, told CBC News that issues at the building could have been avoided if Good had just called his insurance company in January, when a roof leak was discovered. The owner has hired companies to test and fix the mould, as well as an electrical contractor who has done "a significant amount of electrical work," according to Barry. But those efforts may not be enough.

"A lot of things have been done but not to the fullest extent needed to avoid what could happen if the Electrical Safety Authority doesn't pass the building," said Barry.

Another inspection by the ESA is scheduled for later this week, but Barry said he couldn't say how long it would take to fix the problems with the building.

CBC News has made repeated attempts to contact owner Terry Good, but he has not responded.