Updated regulations will toughen rules against renovictions
Ontario will be implementing updated rules and regulations focused on renters’ welfare, according to Steve Clark, the province’s housing minister.
The raft of changes that Clark announced included addressing delays at the province’s Landlord and Tenant Board and toughening rules against renovictions.
In particular, landlords will now be required to provide tenants with a 60-day grace period to resume renting once renovations have bene completed, under the same rent rates they were paying prior to renovation.
“When a tenant is required to vacate a unit to allow for renovations, landlords would be required to provide a report from a qualified person stating that the unit must be vacant to allow renovations to take place,” Clark said.
“Where a tenant has said they wish to move back in once renovations are complete, landlords would have to give the tenant written updates on the status of the renovation and when the unit is ready for occupancy.”
The province also promised to bolster tenants’ rights to air conditioning.
“Some landlords already provide air conditioning, but where they don’t, they would have to allow tenants to install a window or portable unit so long as the tenant meets a few real basic requirements,” Clark said.
Additionally, the province will be doubling fines for offences under the Residential Tenancies Act, with the maximum penalties pushed up to $100,000 for individuals and up to $500,000 for corporations.
