Calls to strengthen new 'renovictions' by-law fail to sway councillors who argue it's better than nothing
Urgency to get some municipal protections in place for tenants at risk of “renoviction” outweighed concerns that a draft licensing by-law requires strengthening to be effective.
On Monday, members of tenants’ advocacy group London ACORN held a protest in front of city hall before bringing their message directly to a meeting of the Community and Protective Services (CAPS) Committee.
“This city is bleeding affordable units! We're losing them at a massive rate!” warned Jordan Smith, chair of the Carling-Stoneybrook chapter during his delegation to the committee.
Renoviction is a term to describe the unethical use of N-13 notices to evict low-income tenants on the pretense of renovating their unit, but in fact the landlord takes advantage of the vacancy to hike the rent.
A draft licensing by-law recommended by city staff would require landlords who issue an N-13 Notice to:
- obtain a $600 Rental Unit Repair License from city hall for each unit
- include a professional engineer or architect’s opinion that the tenant must vacate the unit during the renovation provide impacted tenants with an information package explaining their rights
Penalties would range between $250 and $2,500 for non-compliance:
- Fail to give Tenant Information Package with N13 Notice $1,000
- Fail to apply for Licence $2,000
- Fail to Renew Licence $250
- Renovations without a Licence – Landlord $2,500
- Fail to Comply with Licence Conditions $500
- Advertise or Occupy Unit to be Re-Occupied $2,500
- Fail to comply – Federal or Provincial Laws/ Municipal By-laws $1,000
Multiple fines could be issued to the same landlord, and amounts doubled for repeat offenders.
London ACORN is demanding higher penalties to act as a deterrent, and that the city require landlords to offer alternate accommodations or a rent top-up to tenants while they are displaced.
“The accommodation assistance that is required in Hamilton's by-law should be required in our by-law,” urged Claire Wittnebel of London ACORN.
However, the committee was reminded that unless the estimated $330,000 cost (for three staff, one vehicle) to enforce the new by-law is included in 2025 budget deliberations this fall - the protections for tenants would be delayed.
“We could miss that budget update and not have this licensing regime until next year (2026),” worried Councillor David Ferreira. “[That] means we wouldn’t have a tool to give to tenants so they can be protected for another year.”
Mayor Josh Morgan, who will be drafting his 2025 Budget Update next month said, “The best thing to do here is to move forward with something that improves the situation, continue with whatever discussions we want to have about advocating with the province or other pieces we want to do.”
However, Councillor Hadleigh McAlister pushed back on the argument that changes could be considered at a later date.
“I think now is the time,” McAlister asserted. “Whenever we talk about [coming] back to it, I rarely see that happen. Personally, I think that's a way of just pushing things forward without, unfortunately, creating a stronger bylaw when we have the opportunity.”
Separate motions to boost the financial penalties and add a requirement for alternate accommodations both failed to gain enough support from committee members.
Instead, the CAPS Committee recommended the draft by-law brought forward by civic administration.
“It may not be perfect, but we need to have something,” admitted Councillor Peter Cuddy. “We need to have something in place in the next few weeks.”
Expect another lengthy debate when the issue is considered by Council on September 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Tensions run high on the Hill as MPs debate second Conservative motion of non-confidence
Members of Parliament debated the second Conservative motion of non-confidence in Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government of the week on Thursday, amid simmering tensions.
WATCH LIVE Helene strengthens to a Category 4 hurricane as it nears Florida's Gulf Coast
Helene strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane hours ahead of its expected landfall on Florida's northwest coast Thursday night, and forecasters warned that the enormous storm could create a 'nightmare' surge in coastal areas and bring dangerous winds and rain across much of the southeastern U.S.
Cold case arrest: Nunavut RCMP charge man with murder in 1986 death of teenage girl
Mounties in Nunavut have made an arrest in the murder of a 15-year-old girl almost 40 years ago.
Mounties in B.C. warn 'highly convincing' scammers extorting victims with photos of their homes
Scammers are increasingly using emails to extort money from victims by threatening to reveal compromising photos, videos and personal information to their friends and family members, according to a new warning from Mounties in Metro Vancouver.
Air Canada flight to Toronto diverts due to emergency
An Air Canada flight headed to Toronto from Frankfurt diverted to Edinburgh due to an emergency Thursday, the airline says.
Canadian rapper K'naan charged with sexual assault following arrest in Quebec City
Canadian singer K’naan has been charged with sexual assault after being arrested by police in Quebec City.
NDP MP introduces bill to criminalize residential school denialism
An NDP MP has introduced a bill that would criminalize residential school denialism, saying it would help stop harm caused toward survivors, their families and communities.
Masking reintroduced in N.S. hospitals as respiratory illnesses increase
A partial masking mandate has returned to Nova Scotia hospitals and provincially run healthcare facilities for visitors and healthcare workers.
Eye drops recalled in Canada over infection risk
A Canadian pharmaceutical company is warning consumers not to use some of its eye drops because of potential microbial growth that may result in eye infections.