FEDERATION OF METRO TENANTS ASSOCIATION (FMTA) 2018 Toronto Tenant School
Announcing June 2018 Toronto Tenant School: Registration is Now Open!
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?
FMTA is pleased to once again offer its tenant school, running for two full days on June 2 and 9, 2018!
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 May 15, 2018!
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 totenantschool@torontotenants.org to obtain a registration form!
Fill out the online registration form available at: https://goo.gl/forms/8tpYPWKcX2xx86yt1
New Resource: The FMTA’s Guide to Renovations: What Tenants Need to Know
Published on The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/new-resource-fmtas-guide-renovations-what-tenants-need-know
You can download the guide at this link:
https://torontotenants.org/resources/other-documents/guide-renovations-what-tenant-needs-know
Ontario Introduces New Easy-to-Understand Standard Lease
Published on The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/ontario-introduces-new-easy-understand-standard-lease
Ontario is introducing a new, simple standard lease (refer to link) …that will be mandatory for private residential leases signed on or after April 30, 2018, including tenancies in single and semi-detached houses, apartment buildings, rented condominiums and secondary units (such as basement apartments).
Above Guideline Rent Increases: The Law Has Changed
On January 1, 2018, two changes to the Residential Tenancies Act that relate to the landlord’s Application for a Rent Increase above the Guideline came into effect:
1. A landlord will no longer be able to apply for a rent increase above the guideline because utility costs (e.g. fuel, electricity or water) have increased.
2. If a landlord has not complied with an order to fix an elevator (issued by the LTB, the municipality or the Technical Standards and Safety Authority), the LTB can dismiss the application or require the landlord to fix the elevators before ordering an above guideline increase.
More details available at the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations website:
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/above-guideline-rent-increases-law-has-changed
FMTA – latest resources
New Resource: A Guide to Living with Pests: Identification, Regulation and Treatment Options
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/new-resource-guide-living-pests-identification-regulation-and-treatment-options\
New Resource: A Guide to Development and Planning at the City of Toronto
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/new-resource-guide-development-and-planning-city-Toronto\
New Resource: The Fire Code – An Overview for Tenants
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/new-resource-fire-code-overview-tenants\
FMTA More Changes under Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan – Sept 2017
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/more-changes-under-ontarios-fair-housing-plan –
ONTEN – The meeting place for Ontario’s Tenants
Why Get Involved?
September 12, 2017 – L.D. Blake
The new rules, brought in this April, have effectively put an end to the massive rent increases many tenants suffered by closing the “1991 loophole” which left a growing number of rental units without any kind of regulation. They also clamped down on phony evictions done on the premise of the landlord needing the premises.
You can relax now, things are OK once again.
Or are they?…… Refer to this link for more details: https://onten.ca/get-involved/
FMTA – New Resource: The Fire Code – An Overview for Tenants
Check out the FMTA’s latest resource on navigating the Fire Prevention Office and Fire Safety laws for tenants
July 2017
You can access the document at this link:
https://torontotenants.org/sites/torontotenants.org/files/publications/FMTA_Fire_Code%202017.pdf
Emptied Kensington apartments appear on Airbnb
Former tenants allege they were forced out by illegal rent hikes and intimidation.
By Emily Mathieu Housing Reporter
Mon., June 19, 2017
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/06/19/emptied-kensington-apartments-appear-on-airbnb.html
PRESTON GROUP – Proposed construction of 37-storey apartment building behind 90 Eastdale Avenue
Report from Janet Davis, City Councillor Ward 31 Beaches-East York
June 11, 2017
As you may know, the Preston Group submitted a new application to the City for redevelopment of its property at 90 Eastdale Avenue. A “Directions Report” about this proposal is being considered by the Toronto and East York Community Council on Tuesday, June 13th, 2017, times for 10:30 a.m.
Refer to this attachment for more details: PrestonGroup_90 Eastdale
Website: http://www.councillordavis.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/web/status/873993065362575360
FRPO Submission to the Standing Committee on General Government ~ Bill 124 ~
May 9, 2017
INTRODUCTION
It has been well documented that Ontario is facing a growing crisis of housing affordability and that families are facing barriers to find housing that they can afford. This crisis is not limited to the skyrocketing costs of home ownership—families who rely on rental housing are facing impediments to finding the rental housing they can afford in locations connected to their work, schools, and other community supports.
The creation of more affordable housing can only be achieved by encouraging more supply and the ………….
Refer to this link for the full article:
https://www.frpo.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/FRPO-Submission-to-Standing-Committee-on-General-Government-re-Bill-124-2017-05-09.pdf
Parkdale Tenants Disrupt Hearing in Protest Over Proposed Rent Hike
Residents and their supporters broke up a meeting at the Landlord and Tenant Board to protest above-guideline rent increase.
June 7, 2017
FMTA responds to Ontario’s Fair Housing Plan
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/fmta-responds-ontarios-fair-housing-plan
It is a good day for tenants.
Long sought-after changes to the tenancy laws have been announced today by the Province. The FMTA – including Tenant Associations, individual members and the Board of Directors – has been pushing for decades for many of the tenant protections announced today.
The changes announced have been made possible by good old-fashioned campaign work from our members and volunteers, GTA ACORN, the Advocacy Centre for Tenants of Ontario, Generation Squeeze, RentLogic, MPP’s, City Councillors and a host of other agencies and individuals pushing to improve tenant rights.
The changes include:
1. Expanding rent control to all private rental units in Ontario, including those built after 1991.
This creates one system of rent control for 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. It was the first campaign of one of our main founders, Nelson Clarke. He would be proud to see this exemption finally ended.
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.
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.
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.
While the FMTA is very happy to see protections extended to millions of tenants, the housing crisis will not be solved today. Increased investment in housing development is needed either directly or through well-tested government incentives. Hundreds of low-income government units are being shuttered. Tenants continue to demand a fair deal including the re – introduction of vacancy rent control, elimination of AGI’s, strong penalities for landlords who break the law, expanded programs which help low-income tenants find and keep housing and improved repair and living conditions.
The FMTA will continue to push for improved conditions for tenants, but we remain excited today. Tenants have been brought under one system control and one system of contracts.
Together We Are Strong!
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NOTE: Refer to the link below for an update from the Ontario Government:
Government of Ontario Newsroom
Making Housing More Affordable
Ontario Introducing Housing Affordability Measures for Homebuyers and Renters
April 20, 2017 9:20 A.M
https://news.ontario.ca/opo/en/2017/04/making-housing-more-affordable.html
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Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA)
Newsletter Winter 2017
In this Issue: Landlord Licensing, RTA Changes, AGI Campaign
Refer to this link: FMTATenant Winter 2017
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RENT HIKE EXEMPTIONS (Above Guideline Increase)
Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (Toronto tenants crushed by rent hike exemptions )
https://www.torontotenants.org/news/toronto-tenants-crushed-rent-hike-exemptions
The tightening of Toronto’s rental market, which has reached record-low vacancy rates, is being felt most acutely by the residents of newly built condos, which are exempt from rent controls. There is no yearly rent cap for properties built after 1991 because of a controversial exemption in the province’s Residential Tenancies Act that was designed to spur the development of rental properties. The law accomplished its goal but has drawn the ire of housing advocates who say it has created two classes of renters in Ontario: those who have rights and those who have none.
“You got a tier of renters that are covered under the law who are able to enforce their rights and get stable rent increases that they can try to navigate. And then you have this other tier that have no understanding of what their rents are going to be next year,” said Geordie Dent, executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations. “That second group? It’s growing and it’s going to keep growing.”
Recent data from Urbanation Inc., a consulting and market research firm that focuses on the GTA’s condo market, shows that average rents for condos rose 11.7 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2016 over the same period a year earlier. In the city’s core, condos rented for an average of $2,134 a month in the last three months of 2016.
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LANDLORDS ASKING FOR DEPOSIT
Landlords breaking the rules, asking for deposit
Toronto landlords charging potential tenants money just to apply for an apartment, Radio-Canada finds
At least 6 rental companies appear to use pressure tactics as city’s vacancy rate falls to 1%
By Lisa-Marie Fleurent, John Rieti, CBC News
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/landlords-charging-for-application-fee-1.4007281
TORONTO RENTING WOES – CBC TORONTO
Shannon Martin, CBC Toronto reporter
Hey everyone, my column yesterday was only the beginning of this conversation. I shared my story in hopes that you would do the same:
No fixed address: How I became a 32-year-old couch surfer
Shannon Martin’s rent shot up nearly $1K a month, now she bounces around between family, friends
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/no-fixed-address-how-i-became-a-32-year-old-couch-surfer-1.3985771
If you’re on Facebook please join the “Toronto renting woes – CBC Toronto” Facebook group and share your stories!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/263249097430694/
Here’s another ask……
We’re putting together a series of profiles on GTA renters. If you have a few minutes tonight, or tomorrow, send me a video.
We want to see you, in your rental, and hear your story. Did it take you months to find it? Was there a bidding war? Where is it? What are the conditions like?
And most importantly, if you have questions for Ontario’s Housing Minister, the Mayor, or maybe you have questions about your rights as a tenant or landlord, include those too.
We’re rolling out 10-days of coverage on CBC Toronto starting Monday. And we’d love to have your voices.
From Shannon Martin, CBC Toronto reporter :
https://www.facebook.com/groups/263249097430694/
Above Guidelines Rent Increase and Residential Tenancies Act
(Notification from S. Antaya, Feb.9/2017 – https://www.facebook.com/groups/1282837508474422/)
Our landlord, Hollyburn Properties, have been approved for over guideline increases five years out of the last ten. Adding approximately $200 +/- to our monthly rents over the course of 14 years.
In some cases this has added a debt burden of $35,000 + to vulnerable renters in Ontario. This is happening all over Ontario (and Canada). Millions of dollars are being syphoned out of the pockets of hard working renters into the pocket of these powerhouse corporations. The multi-million dollar owner of Hollyburn Properties has been approved for things such as mailboxes, lobby renovations, landscaping and many other unnecessary “upgrades” and the list goes on.
We are trying to organize a group in Ontario to pressure the Liberals to have this provision removed and to protect the people that put them in power. Apartment building owners are some of the richest people in Canada and to expect tenants to fund renovations, with the approval of our government, is unconscionable. We are trying to organize as many tenant associations/apartments that have been affected by this outdated provision, as we are able to bring a strong voice to parliament that the direction they have been taking by allowing this extortion and outright abuse of the provisions afforded under the Residential Tenancies Act must be stopped.
We are looking to add your voice to our movement to have the Act changed to protect tenants from predatory landlords that “upgrade” their buildings using money from provided by hard working tenants. We are in the very early stages trying to gather as much support as we can and hope that you will add your voice to our cause. We don’t believe that this is the direction that society should be taking when so many are in jeopardy of losing their housing because of this practice.
We need as many stories from tenants as possible to provide us with the paperwork relating to these above-guideline increases. Please help spread the word to all people affected so we can have our voices heard.
S. Antaya
Please visit us and add your voice at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1282837508474422/
CITY COUNCIL TOUGHENS RULES FOR LANDLORDS
Toronto City Council has approved a new set of rules designed to protect tenants and penalize bad landlords.
By Emily Mathieu, Investigative News reporter
Wed., Dec. 14, 2016
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2016/12/14/city-council-toughens-rules-for-landlords.html
Racist Landlords Are Making Toronto’s Housing Crisis Worse
Source of this publication is the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association (FMTA)
http://www.torontotenants.org/news/racist-landlords-are-making-torontos-housing-crisis-worse
From budget cuts to gentrification to a dismally inadequate shelter system that leaves many homeless people exposed to fatal temperatures in the winter months, Toronto’s housing market is in crisis.
From budget cuts to gentrification to a dismally inadequate shelter system that leaves many homeless people exposed to fatal temperatures in the winter months, Toronto’s housing market is in crisis.
Deeply entrenched systems of discrimination make the search for housing much more difficult for many marginalized groups including people with disabilities, people who are low income or receive social assistance, single parents, and new immigrants, members of LGBTQ2 communities, people with criminal records, and people transitioning out of homelessness or incarceration. The pressure is also felt by racialized people, even middle-class and professional workers.
Studies have shown that along with new immigrants and people of African descent, Indigenous people experience particularly high rates of housing discrimination in Canada, a country built on dispossession of land through violence and fraudulent treaty processes.
The article delves into illegal deposits, covert discrimination and specifically the prejudice faced by single mothers and indigenous and racialized people. To read the full article, visit:
https://ricochet.media/en/1049/racist-landlords-are-making-torontos-housing-crisis-worse
