New Resource: The FMTA's Guide to Renovations: What Tenants Need to Know
Check out the FMTA's latest resource on (almost) everything a tenant needs to know about renovations!
Noticiation requirements, Human Rights, Permits, Noise, Air Quality, Asbestos, Lead - it's all here! Your guide to help you know all the requirements or a landlord during renovations including what the law says and where to go when it's not followed! Download the guide today here.
Tenant Association Profile: 100 Wellesley Street Tenant Association
The 100 Wellesley Tenants Association provides representation for the tenants living in that building. Tenants are welcome to join and can approach the association with concerns ranging from repairs and bedbugs through harassment. The website lists news and announcements and is available at:
https://sites.google.com/a/100wellesley.org/ww2/
Tenants Can Now Look Up Highrise Fire Inspection Information Online
Toronto tenants living in highrises can finally look up the results of fire inspections for their buildings , including Toronto Community Housing buildings, using an online portal launched recently by Toronto Fire Services and the City of Toronto. Data goes back to 2017.
While this is an important step forward, the only information provided is on buildings with no violations after inspections or those with closed violations. Buildings that might be unsafe, with unresolved fire code violations, are not listed, prompting criticism from tenant advocates.
The portal is available at:
The following articles have more information:
Tenants Can Now Look Up Highrise Fire Inspection Data Onnline~Toronto Star
Fire Inspection Results for Toronto Highrise Buildings Now Online~ CBC Toronto
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/fire-inspection-portal-1.4457058
New Resource: A Guide to Living with Pests: Identification, Regulation and Treatment Options
Check out the FMTA's latest resource on living wih those creepy crawler: pests!
Bed Bugs, ants, cockroaches, mice...we've got the 411 on all of them as well as info on identification, regulation and treatment options. Download the guide today here.
Tenant Association Profile: Centurion Properties Tenant Association
The Centurion Properties Tenants Association represents tenants at 1731, 1735 and 1739 Victoria Park Ave. The blog for the CPTA provides information and updates pertaining to each building as well as general Centurion news. Centurion Properties has owned the buildings for a little over a year, having purchased the three buildings in May 2017.
To read the blog, visit:
http://cptenants.ca/
New Resource: A Guide to Development and Planning at the City of Toronto
Check out the FMTA's latest resource on navigating the long and complex development and planning process at the City of Toronto!
An overview of the process, the role of tenants, City Councillors, provisions protecting rental housing...it's all here!
Download the guide today here.
City to review rules for apartment temperatures after heat wave
After an unseasonably warm September in Toronto that left some tenants sweltering in their units, the city will look at changing the requirements for landlords.
Council approved a motion from Councilor Josh Matlow, which was seconded by Mayor John Tory, for staff to consult on amending the bylaw governing heat in apartments and report back early in 2018.
The amendments might revisit the existing heat bylaw, ask landlords to begin to provide airconditioning or establish a maximum temperature.
The decision from the city is available at:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2017.MM32.50
An article published in the Toronto Star is available at:
https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/10/04/city-to-review-rules-for-apartment-temperatures-after-heat-wave.html
More Changes under Ontario's Fair Housing Plan - Sept 2017
On April 20, 2017 The government of Ontario passed the Fair Housing Plan which sets out the following major protections for tenants:
1. Expanding rent control to all private rental units in Ontario, including those built after 1991.
This creates one system of rent control in Ontario and brings 100,000's of units under rent control. The FMTA has been working on ending the two-tiered system of rent control since our founding in 1977.
The provision took effect retroactively from April 20. This means that rent increases will be indexed to the provincial guideline which is 1.5% for 2017 and is going to be 1.8% for 2018.
2. Developing a standard lease
This has been a main FMTA campaign since 2012 and will prevent a host of illegal charges and provisions for tenants throughout the Province.
Consultations on a standardized lease are currently underway and more information can be found at:
http://www.ontariocanada.com/registry/view.do?postingId=24856&language=en
3. Tightening provisions for "landlord's own use" evictions
Our members in Toronto and allies around the Province in Ottawa, St. Catherines, Owen Sound, Thunder Bay and other municipalities have highlighted this as an issue of major importance with tenants facing constant abuse. We're excited to see provisions brought in to protect against 'bad faith' evictions. These provisions came into effect on September 1, 2017.
Thus, an eviction notice served (given) to a tenant for Landlord’s Own Use on or after September 1, 2017 (provided it is legally valid) will follow the new rules. An eviction notice for Landlord’s Own Use served before September 1, even if the date the tenant has to move is after September 1, still follows the old rules.
Under the new rules, a landlord must compensate a tenant who is being asked to move out for landlord or purchaser’s own use, with either one (1) month’s rent or provide their tenant with a comparable unit. It is not clear as yet in what way the compensation will be paid out.
The new rules also create a situation where a landlord must prove that they genuinely plan on moving in.
For more information, please look at the following links:
Or:
4. Prohibiting above-guideline increases where elevator work orders have not been completed
Reform to legislation that allows for Above Guideline Rent Increases is one of the most common demands we here from tenants in Toronto. We are happy to see landlords restricted from getting tenants to pay for improving their asset and are hopeful that other changes get brought in to further limit a landlords ability to pass these costs along to tenants while keeping high profits and claiming a tax reduction for the work that tenants pay for.
5. Actions to Increase Housing Supply
By far the most important need in the Province is increased supply of rental housing in general and affordable housing specifically. Many of the provisions today will help protect tenants in the short term, but the only way to tackle affordability in the long-term would be to increased supply of housing which would create more options for low-income tenants to afford. Any actions to increase supply are positive, but investment such as that which was done in the 1970's - 90's by the Federal Government is key.
Recently, the provincial government announced plans to unlock land in Toronto to create 2000 market rent and affordable rental units. An article with more information can be found here:
To keep up-to-date on changes to the law or to get help with tenant questions, please call our Tenant Hotline at 416-921-9494. Also, please refer to our
Q&A about the recent changes to the law, a vailable at:
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/questions-and-answers-ontarios-fair-housing-plan
Tenant Association Profile: Royal York Gardens Tenant Association
The Royal York Gardens Tenant Association was established to provide advocacy and services for the Tenants living at Royal York Gardens (1137, 1139 and 1141 Royal York Gardens). The Tenant Association keeps track of local development; organizes social events for its members and works with management to improve living conditions. There is a regular newsletter which is sent to members and available on the Association’s website. The TA holds regular membership drives and meetings for its members.
To learn more, visit their website at:
https://rygta.com/
Registration is Now Open for the November 18 and 25, 2017 Tenant School!
Are you a tenant living in Toronto? Do you have questions about your rights under the law? Have you ever thought of working with your neighbours to start a tenants association? Does your tenant association want to become more effective in the building?
In conjunction with the Maytree Foundation, the FMTA is pleased to offer its two-day tenant school, running for two full days on November 18 and 25, 2017!
The training is free and classes are taught by experienced lawyers and community advocates. Learn about your rights under the law such as how to get repairs done, fight evictions and challenge unfair rent increases. The school is an opportunity to meet other tenants and strategize about ways you can work with each other and work with your local government to accomplish shared goals.
Registration is now open-and remains open to October 15, 2017! Please sign up as space is limited. Signing up has never been easier! You can register in the following ways:
Call 416-413-9442 or write to [email protected] to obtain a registration form!
Fill out the online registration form available at:
https://goo.gl/forms/DcgNHzFE0F0yZIJm1
“Together We Are Strong!”