Money Toronto rental program blasted by councillors for ‘failing’ tenants

Two Toronto councillors are calling for changes in a city-run program which they said is failing 30 per cent of the city’s residents who rely on it.

The RentSafeTO program was launched in 2017, with the goal of protecting tenants and holding landlords to account.

Coun. Josh Matlow said he once heralded it for being a progressive way to protect tenant’s rights. But ahead of the Housing and Planning Committee, he and fellow city coun. Kristyn Wong-Tam, blasted RentSafeTO for coming up short.

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Leslieville residents protested outside their apartment building on Saturday, saying they are being forced out so the landlord can renovate and jack up rent . It's known as "renoviction," and one Toronto councillor says it's time to change the rules to stop landlords from getting away.

Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam has an extensive career investing in the City of Toronto through both the public She has led efforts to defend the rights of tenants to obtain affordable and decent standards of rental housing and helped (Information provided by Councillor for the 2014-2018 term of Council).

Matlow said while there were some things to praise, not all the buildings registered in the program have been audited.

"Based on the feedback that I've heard from tenants across the city, the city has been failing them," said Matlow.

RentSafeTO is supposed to strengthen bylaw enforcement, promote maintenance for the upkeep of apartment buildings, and increase the amount of information tenants get. The audit and enforcement program applies to buildings with 10 or more units or that are three or more stories.

© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston Condominiums and the CN Tower are shown along the Toronto skyline on Tuesday, April 25, 2017. Real estate markets in Canada remain "vulnerable" despite an easing in overvaluation in cities like Toronto and Victoria in the third quarter, according to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

READ MORE: Tenant rights advocates want city to establish ‘Rent Safe’ program

Week in celebrity photos for Nov. 18-22, 2019

Week in celebrity photos for Nov. 18-22, 2019

posting a tenant notification board and keeping it up to date. Owners of rental apartment buildings are required to register and comply with the program . If you are renting an apartment in a building that is not part of the RentSafeTO program , such as a condo building, a townhome, or a unit in a private

Midtown Toronto Condos. Liberty Village Condos. Leslieville Condots. King West Condos. Fort York Condos. Downtown Toronto Condos. “We have found Condo Rental Canada have responded efficiently to repairs needed on our rental property sending qualified and skilled professionals.

When it was launched, Matlow said he wanted the program to mimic DineSafe, which has a colour-coded rating system.

“It doesn’t exist, that is a fail,” he said.

Matlow said he also wants to address issues with a lack of standard operating procedures.

“A tenant should have some predictability as to when it will be addressed, when it should be fixed,” he said. “Right now it is completely open to discretion and interpretation,” he said, adding that time extensions at the property standards committee should be limited to prevent city work orders from being completed.

READ MORE: City to create ‘mixed income neighbourhood’ with new affordable homes in Toronto’s east end

Matlow said 12 new enforcement officers were supposed to be added to the team, but only five have been hired.

“A question that we have that still remains is ‘why not, what’s happened to the money?'” he said.

Councillor Wong-Tam says this problem is human made and can be corrected with human action, will be asking for more powers from the Province to empower the officers. #topoli#onpolipic.twitter.com/TKlI1awpoM

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One of the North's largest landlords has been charging its tenants thousands of dollars in illegal fees even after being told dozens of times to stop by the N.W.T’s rental officer.CBC News has learned Northview Apartment REIT has been charging its tenants illegal "pet fees" for having pets in its pet-friendly buildings.

Founded in 1974, we are the oldest and largest Tenant Federation in Canada. The FMTA is comprised of affiliated Tenant Associations and of individual Members. We have over 3,000 members and continue to grow.

Toronto rental program blasted by councillors for ‘ failing ’ tenants . Toronto city councillors ‘shocked’ over Karygiannis’ ousting.

— Matthew Bingley (@mattybing) November 13, 2019

The complaints are much different from a staff report before the committee which said the program has been successful in meeting its objectives.

Still, that same report acknowledges there are opportunities for improvement. Those include requiring landlords to post the results of their evaluations in their buildings so they’re available to current and potential residents.

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Not satisfied with all the report's findings, Wong-Tam said she would try and address the shortcomings at the committee.

“We need to do what we said we would do by way of policy and making sure that it is properly operationalized,” she said.

Matlow added they would also be asking the committee to request more powers from the province to crack down on landlords who practice so-called “reno-victions.”