City council approves new bylaws to protect tenants in Toronto

Landlords will now be required to register with the City as part of new Toronto bylaws to protect tenants.

City council voted in favour of the bylaws, which includes owner registration every 12 months, that includes information on the property along with an annual registration fee.

Landlords will also need to develop processes for receiving and tracking tenant requests, and responses to urgent requests have to be within 24 hours and non-urgent requests within 7 days.

Additionally, the new bylaws will have owners and operators of properties checking for pests monthly, and will need to have waste management plans.

The new rules come into effect on July 1, and landlords will be expected to register within the first four months.

As part of the bylaw, anyone who breaks the new rules is guilty of “an offence and upon conviction is liable to a fine of no more than $100,000.”

We did it! Toronto’s new Tenant Protection By-law will be in effect on July 1st.

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) March 29, 2017

The cost of this new “Apartment Building Program,” as approved by City Council on
February 15, is $5.2 million. The cost is funded 53% from the $10.60 registration fee, 12% from audit and enforcement activity fees and 35% from the tax base, according to a City report.

Among several housing organizations at the council meeting, the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations and Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) expressed their content with the new bylaws.

We just won #landlord #licensing after a 12 year fight. Thanks to the hard work of ACORN members across the city, as well many allies pic.twitter.com/ETKul7eWli

— TorontoACORN (@TorontoACORN) March 29, 2017

ACORN members fought hard for years to get real protections for #tenants. Historic vote today. Won by action, dedication and people power! pic.twitter.com/WLlPBbKrF7

— TorontoACORN (@TorontoACORN) March 29, 2017

City Council has overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new apartment by-law that will protect #Toronto tenants starting July 1st. #TOpoli

— FMTA (@TorontoTenants) March 29, 2017

The City is also looking to support the “Rent Protection for All Tenants Act” by writing to Peter Tabuns, Member of Provincial Parliament and the Honourable Chris Ballard, Minister of Housing encouraging the passage and implementation of the Act, which would provide rent-hike protection for all renters.

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