A new bylaw will require landlords to register with the city if they want to legally operate rental apartments.
Toronto Council approved the new bylaw Wednesday, the second day of its March meeting, which proponents say will create long overdue protections for tenants. In addition to registering with the city, landlords must respond to urgent tenant requests within 24 hours, regularly inspect common areas for pests and indicate what security features exist on the property.
While landlords and some councillors have cautioned the bylaw could discourage rentals in a city which already has a pronounced deficit, drafters of the new resolution insist the point is not to overregulate, but to ensure specific living standards are maintained.
“What we are approving today is a landmark tenant protection bylaw that is not only being celebrated by tenants across the city … but is even being talked about (in other cities) as a signal of how to do things right,” said St. Paul’s councillor Josh Matlow, one of the bylaw’s strongest supporters, before the near-unanimous vote. “There are many good landlords, but unfortunately there are also some bad apples.”
Conditions at some highrise apartments have grown so unbearable residents are resorting to withholding rent. Back in February, a group of tenants at 87 Jameson Avenue went on a “rent strike” citing long neglected repairs, bed bugs and other pests and lack of accessibility. The tenants told Metroland Media Toronto multiple complaints to the building’s property management went unanswered.
Currently the city is largely powerless when it comes to slumlords, said Councillor Frances Nunziata. “They don’t care, they go to court and continue to delay the process,” she said.
Once the new law takes effect July 1, non-compliant landlords could face fines of up to $100,000 and cannot rent to new tenants until they are registered. The law will apply only to rental properties — co-ops and long term residences are exempt — with at least 10 units standing three storeys or higher. Landlords will have to pay an administration fee per unit and more city inspectors will be hired to enforce the new requirements. Tenants were consulted along with apartment landlords in the drafting of the bylaw.
Some councillors expressed concern the regulations are too broad and may prove impossible to enforce. But the only councillor to vote against was Giorgio Mammoliti, who called out council for mandating standards which are not even upheld in neglected city-owned properties. He said landlords will almost certainly pass on any additional costs for compliance onto tenants.
“You’re not doing tenants any favours,” said Mammoliti.
New measures are needed with tenants now making up at least 50 per cent of city occupants, said Councillor Janet Davis. She admitted the bylaw is a compromise between those on council calling for landlord licensing — like herself — or some other regulatory framework.
“We are restricted somewhat with we can do, but I hope it is a success,” said Davis, whose ward of Beaches-East York is home to several rental apartments. “It’s a good start and I hope it succeeds.”
-with files from Hilary Caton
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