By I. Aagaard, Guest Contributor
A recent article (Smart sub-meters) on the EYTG web site made references to an issue that’s been popping up recently: Smart Sub-Meters in apartment buildings.
I agree fundamentally with the notion of this “Pay Per Use” way of holding each of us responsible for our consumption of non-renewable resources, such as electricity. Continue Reading »
Posted in Above Guideline increase, Building Maintenance, Capital Expenditures, Conservation, Electricity, Energy Conservation, Environment, Greening, Hydro, Infrastructure, Lease Agreement, Politics, Retrofit, Smart meters, Sub-meters, Utilities | Tagged Building Maintenance, Capital Expenditures, Electricity, Energy Conservation, Environment, Politics, Retrofit, Sub-meters, Utilities | 3 Comments »
The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) has issued a ‘Decision and Order’ that will allow landlords to install ‘smart sub-metering systems’ for individual rental units. Smart sub-meters’ are devices that can be installed in individual apartments to monitor a tenant’s use of energy thereby allowing individual billing.
(Refer to this link for more details: http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2009/cc/bgrd/backgroundfile-23859.pdf
The main reason behind this ‘Decision and Order’ is that landlords/ property owners have been installing ‘smart meters’ in residential and commercial complexes in the absence of regulations. Ostensibly the purpose of these ‘smart meters’ is to monitor the Continue Reading »
Posted in Above Guideline increase, Affordability, Annual Guideline Increase, Apartment Issues, Capital Expenditures, Electricity, Energy Conservation, Environment, Greening, Hydro, Lease Agreement, Ontario Energy Board, Retrofit, Smart meters, Sub-meters, Tenancy Agreement, Utilities | Tagged Above Guideline increase, Capital Expenditures, Electricity, Energy Conservation, Environment, Residential Tenancies Act, Retrofit, Smart sub-meters, Sub-meters, Tenancy Agreement | 7 Comments »
Recently we were notified that on Tuesday July 28, 2009, several tenants at 165 Barrington Avenue (Ranee Management) were victimized by an obviously well-planned and executed burglary that occurred during the daytime hours.
The notification received from the concerned tenants indicated that “the criminal(s) stole items to make quick sales. Items stolen included personal items such as jewellery, heirlooms, laptop computers, digital cameras, Continue Reading »
Posted in Apartment Issues, Apartment Safety, Apartment Security, Burglary, Compensation, Door locks, Ranee Management, Robbery, Safety, Safety and Security, Security, Security Camera, Security guards | Tagged 165 Barrington Ave, Burglary, Door locks, Ranee Management, Robbery, Safety, Security, Security guards | 9 Comments »
By I. Aagaard, Guest Contributor
Hi there:
I’m back! Me, with the previous Sustainable Affordability and MISSING: National Housing policy in Federal Elections! contributions. This time I’m here with a suggestion: That tenants collectively approach Ottawa and Queen’s Park for financial help so that we, too, can do our part in saving or creating jobs during these tough times. After all, if GM and Chrysler, to name a few, can get help from Messrs. Harper and McGuinty, then why can’t we?
Think about it! If our respective governments are prepared to help bail out big companies that are poster boys for a capitalist society, then Continue Reading »
Posted in Activism, Affordable housing, Bailout, Canada's Housing Policy, Environment, Home ownership, Politics, Seniors, Seniors housing, Tax breaks | Tagged Affordable housing, Bailout, Canada's Housing Policy, Economy, Granny Flats, Home ownership, Politics, Seniors housing, Sustainable affordability | 5 Comments »
Posted in Apartment Issues, Building Maintenance, Compensation, Complaints, Complaints letter, Eviction, Landlord and Tenant Board, Last Month Rent (LMR), Legal Assistance, Problem Landlords, Repairs, Repairs and maintenance, T2, T6, Tenants boot camp, Withholding rent | Tagged Apartment Issues, Building Maintenance, Compensation, Complaints letter, Eviction, Repairs, Residential Tenancies Act, T6 Application, Tenants boot camp, Withholding rent | 6 Comments »
Posted in Building Code, Building Maintenance, Capital Expenditures, City of Toronto, Health Concerns, Problem Landlords, Ranee Management, Residential Tenancies Act, Second-hand smoke, Smoke free housing, T2, T6, Tenancy Agreement, Tenants boot camp | Tagged Building Code, City of Toronto, Compensation, Health Concerns, Property Standards, Ranee Management, Repairs, Residential Tenancies Act, Second-hand smoke, T2 Application, Tenancy Agreement, Tenants boot camp | 2 Comments »
Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that is beyond our control and have to terminate a rental lease agreement early. In the present economic climate there will probably be an increasing number of renters needing to end their lease/ tenancy agreement early. It could be that laid off or underemployed renters will be seeking less expensive accommodation to survive the downturn in the economy. Some tenants may have found more suitable accommodations and others may be faced with the prospect of becoming homeless due to the economic downturn. Tenants may have to relocate for a new job. It may be that they want to move because of NOISY TENANTS or ‘harassment by a tenant’ and the fact that the landlord is not taking their complaints seriously. Check Municipal Licensing & Standards (Chapter 591 Noise Bylaw) for more detailed information on noise violation.
A tenant may also be concerned about safety and security in their building if they have been a victim of robbery, burglary or break-in and the landlord has not responded adequately. Or there may be existing tensions or conflicts due to other violations of the RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT such as malfunctioning utilities and outstanding major repairs, or Cockroach and bed bug infestation that the landlord ignores. There violations can make your unit uninhabitable. Naturally tenants would want out of their lease/tenancy agreement as soon as possible. There could also be any number of personal Continue Reading »
Posted in Above Guideline increase, Annual Guideline Rent Increase, Bed bugs, Eviction, Landlord and Tenant Board, Lease Agreement, Legal Assistance, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Noise bylaw, Noise Complaints, Ontario Tenants Rights, Pests, Problem Landlords, Problem tenant, Rent Bank Program, Rental Lease Agreement, Tenancy Agreement, Tenants boot camp, Terminating Lease agreement, Vacancy Decontrol | Tagged Affordable housing, Bed bugs, Eviction, Lease Agreement, Noise Complaints, pests, Residential Tenancies Act, T2 Application, Tenants boot camp, Terminate lease agreement, Vacancy Decontrol | Leave a Comment »
390 Dawes Road - Cold lodgings
The tenants of 390 Dawes Road (a METCAP managed building) are without adequate heating for yet another winter.
Our sources tell us that the radiators give off faint warmth but nothing that would produce the “minimum air temperature of 21 degrees Celsius is maintained in all areas of the dwelling unit from the 15th day of September in each year to the 1st day of June in the following year” required by the City’s bylaw on apartment temperature.
Tenants have been complaining about the lack of heating to the City’s Municipal Licensing and Standards and Health departments but so far have not seen the situation get better.
Just not good enough.
Posted in Apartment Issues, Building Maintenance, Heating issues, Landlord Licensing and Standards, METCAP, Utilities | Tagged Apartment Issues, bad landlords, heating | 6 Comments »
East York Tenants Group 