April 5, 2023 at 12:22 am
To provide more housing across the province, the Ford government is taking steps to improve the rental experience for Ontarians by proposing updated policies and doubling the number of Landlord Tenant Board employees.
Attorney General Doug Downey announced in London on Wednesday that with a $65 million grant, 40 more adjudicators and five new staff will be added to “reduce the number of active applications and shorten decision-making time for Landlord Tenant Boards”. .
Hiring more than 40 adjudicators would more than double the number of people currently working with the Landlord Tenant Board.
Applications for the positions are already open, Downey said.
In addition to strengthening the Landlord and Tenant Board, Ontario has proposed new policies to better protect people in the rental market.
One of the proposed changes includes giving tenants the right to install air conditioning if the landlord does not provide it.
“Whether heating in winter or cooling in summer, tenants deserve to be comfortable in their homes year-round,” Municipal Affairs and Housing Secretary Steve Clark said in Wednesday’s announcement. We also heard a report from the Ontario Human Rights Commission, which last year urged the government to implement a practical solution to help protect Ontarians from unsafe temperatures.”
Under the new policy, tenants will be allowed to bring their own portable or window air conditioning unit as long as it does not cause damage to the property and complies with all applicable laws. Landlords must also be provided with written notice of the installation, energy efficiency of equipment and expected use by tenants.
Ontario is also taking steps to protect tenants from so-called “reno-victions” — situations in which tenants are instructed to vacate their units to make way for renovations.
In order to evict a tenant for renovations, demolition or alterations, the landlord must have a qualified professional complete a report stating that the unit must be vacant in order for the work to be completed.
Tenants wishing to move back after renovations must be provided with an update on the status of the entire project and the date the unit will be ready for occupancy. Those renters will be given a 60-day grace period to move back into their homes and should pay the same rent.
In the event of any disputes, tenants can lodge a claim with the Landlord and Tenant Board two years after moving out or six months after renovations are completed, whichever is longer.
Finally, the maximum penalty under the Residential Tenancies Act will be doubled to $100,000 for individuals and $500,000 for corporations. Ontario’s fines are reportedly the highest of any province in Canada.
“Our government will continue to provide support to renters and landlords to ensure that the rules around rental housing are fair, reasonable and enforced in a timely manner,” said Housing Associate Minister Nina Tangri. “This announcement builds on the We build on our record of rental housing growth while laying the foundation for long-term future growth.”