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Automatic Rent Reduction in 2013

December 13, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

UPDATE – Check this link for details related to the 2014 Annual Rent Increase as well as the Automatic Rent Reduction in 2014 – http://wp.me/pia0J-ZA

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Rents will be reduced in 2013 due to the decrease in municipal property taxes. The percentage amount that a tenant can reduce their monthly rent is 0.71%.  This means that tenants can look forward to a small reduction in their monthly rental payments effective December 31, 2012.

Tenants should note that they do not require permission from the landlord or the Landlord and Tenant Board to reduce their rent by 0.71%.  However, as a courtesy, you should discuss how the reduction will be done with your landlord.

More information about this decrease in property taxes and the reduction in rent has been mailed out by City of Toronto only to tenants who qualify for the reduction.  The rent reduction applies to tenants in residential properties. The properties excluded from the reduction include public housing, non-profit housing, non-profit co-operatives, etc.  For more details on how this reduction is to be applied and to see if you qualify for a rent reduction you should check these City of Toronto links:  http://www.toronto.ca/housing/tenant_notification.htm and  http://www.toronto.ca/housing/rentlowerfaq.htm,

You can also phone the City of Toronto hotline 311 for further clarification.

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NOTES

1. Additional information can be obtained from the Landlord and Tenant Board at TEL: 416-645-8080 or at their website: www.ltb.gov.on.ca

2.  The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) has posted a Q & A that provides clarification about the rent reduction. Check this link: http://www.torontotenants.org/

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON LAST MONTH RENT (LMR) – The landlord must pay the tenant interest on the rent deposit every year. Under the Residential  Tenancies Act the interest charged on your last month’s rent will be equal to that year’s Annual Rent Increase Guideline amount. Landlords have the option to add that interest to your last month’s rent deposit or that interest can be applied as a reduction in your annual notice of a rent increase. Check this link: http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/STDPROD_098894.html

Posted in 2013 Rent Increase Guildeline, Last month rent, Property tax decrease, Rent reduction 2013, Residential Tenancies Act | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

2013 City of Toronto Budget – Meetings and Consultations

December 5, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

1)  An emergency meeting of housing advocates will be held on Friday, December 7, 2012 at 1 p.m. at the Wellesley Institute, 10 Alcorn Avenue, Suite 300. The purpose is to discuss and organize around the massive housing cuts in the proposed 2013 City budget. The City’s Shelter, Support and Housing Administration budget includes a $128 million cut including $72 million in provincial and federal cuts and $56 million in cuts proposed by the City.

Budget Committee – You are encouraged to sign up to depute at the Budget Committee to show strong support for the programs and the communities affected. If you can make it to the meeting, please RSVP to beth@socialplanningtoronto.org

NOTE: The Budget Committee’s public hearings are on December 10 and 11. You must register to speak – buc@toronto.ca  or 416-338-5851

For more information about the housing cuts check these links:

www.wellesleyinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Building-Better-Budgets-Housing-Flip-Sheet.pdf

www.thestar.com/opinion/publiceditor/article/1296458–affordable-housing-takes-huge-hit-in-draft-2013-city-budget

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2) A meeting will also be held at the Scarborough Civic Centre to discuss the 2013 City of Toronto Budget and how the proposed cuts will affect the community. The Community Consultation will take place: Saturday, December 8, 2012, 2:30pm – 5:00pm, Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Dr)

For more information on the event,  contact Effie at 416-706-4405 or effie@publicinterest.ca

Refer to this attachment for details about the “Scarborough Speaks out” meeting:  Scarborough speaks out-Saturday

Posted in 2013 City of Toronto Budget Consultations, 2013 City of Toronto Budget Cuts | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Multi-Residential Apartment Buildings Audit Program – Meeting

November 13, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

The  City’s Licensing Committee will be discussing the City of Toronto MRAB (Multi-Residential Apartment Buildings) program at its meeting on Friday November 16th, 2012.

This meeting is an opportunity for tenants and tenant groups to participate in the discussion about the effectiveness of the property standards by-law and whether or not the by-law is properly enforced.  Tenants need know whether the current system works and if it has been meeting the regulations of the property standards by-law. Outstanding repairs and maintenance issues have a negative impact on the quality of life of tenants and also violate the property standards by-law. Is the property standards by-law being enforced in a way that ensures ‘proper repairs and maintenance’ in their buildings?  How is the MRAB program being monitored? Have there been changes to the MRAB program and have these changes been made public? Tenants need to know whether or not this MRAB program is working well and if property standards are being enforced.

Tenants can participate in the discussion to take place on Friday November 16th, 2012.

For more information on the meeting refer to this communique from Janet Davis (Beaches-East York Councillor):  Multi-Residential Apartment Buildings Audit Program

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NOTE – In an earlier post “MLS AUDITING PROGRAM FOR 2011 – Update” we  raised a number of concerns related to how MRAB conducted audits.  Refer to this link:   https://eastyorktenantsgroup.com/2011/04/04/upcoming-federal-election-2011/.

Posted in Apartment Issues, Building Maintenance, MLS Building Audit, MRAB, Municipal Licensing and Standards, Repairs and maintenance | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

City of Toronto Seniors Strategy Consultation

October 24, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

Council members of  the City of Toronto have come up with a strategic plan to meet the needs of the expanding seniors’ population. A  sub-committee that includes Janet Davis (East York Councillor) has been established to provide advice and input to ensure that the City remains a safe, navigable, affordable, accessible and enjoyable city for everyone.  

The information gathered at this consultation will help to identify service priorities and innovative ideas to improve senior services in our city. You are encouraged to come and share your views about Seniors Services in our City.

The Seniors Strategy Consultation will take place on  Monday October 29, 2012 at the East York Civic Centre, 850 Coxwell Avenue, Toronto.

More details are available at these websites links:

City of Toronto Seniors Strategy
http://www.toronto.ca/seniors/strategy.htm

Janet Davis, City Councillor, Ward 31
http://www.councillordavis.com/action-centre/seniors-strategy-consultation

City looking for input into strategy to meet needs of rising senior population
http://www.torontonews24.com/toronto-news/18-community-and-events/1499-city-looking-for-input-into-strategy-to-meet-needs-of-rising-senior-population

Those who wish to participate should refer to these attachments for more information:

 SeniorsStrategy

SeniorsStrategy_Workbook

Posted in City of Toronto Seniors Strategy, Seniors, Toronto City Council | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

International Tenants Day

September 14, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

International Tenants Day is an annual event coordinated by the Swedish-based International Union of Tenants. It aims to promote tenant rights around the world while creating awareness of tenant issues.  International Tenants Day takes place on October 1st this year.

The Federation of Metro Tenants Association  (FMTA)  has organized a Tenant Summit to take place on Saturday Sept. 29, 2012 to address challenges faced by tenants.  For more information about FMTA’s Tenant Summit – On Even Ground: Fairness for Tenants in Housing you should check : www.torontotenants.org/itd2012  as well as the poster:  ITD-Poster2012.

How you can participate in International Tenants Day
The goal of International Tenants Day is to promote pride in being a tenant, garner some media and political attention to tenant issues and to unite tenants and agencies into a show of force. You can help in a variety of ways:   telling everyone you know, helping to organize some of the sessions, or even just coming to the summit. Contact fmta@torontotenants.org or call 416-646-1772 for more information!  

Several agencies are teaming up this year to turn promote International Tenants Day at the FMTA’s Tenant Summit. The FMTA will be running a series of sessions highlighting ways that tenants can plug into the issues that matter to them mostly at the Federal, Provincial, Municipal and landlord-tenant level.  Sessions include:

– Advocacy Centre for Tenants of Ontario – Legal Challenges Against the Federal Government’s Housing Policy

– ACORN Toronto –  Provincial Vacancy Decontrol Campaign

– Tenants For Social Housing – Affordable Housing in the City of Toronto

– Federation of Metro Tenants Associations – The Launch of the Fairlease Campaign to Prevent Abuse in Tenancies

Posted in Tenant Rights, Upcoming event | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

Taylor Massey Tenant School

August 15, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

UPDATE – Please note that the Federation of Metro Tenants Association (FMTA) has launched the “Connecting Communities Tenant School”. The purpose of the tenant school is for ’empowering tenants through education and information of their legal rights as tenants’.  The schools will be be held over a period of 2 years.

Check these links for more details:
www.torontotenants.org/news/fmta-launches-connecting-communities-tenant-school
http://www.torontotenants.org/news/connecting-communities-tenant-school-now-accepting-participants

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You are invited to participate in the upcoming Taylor Massey Tenant School.

This event will take place September 11- October 16, 2012 at 10 Gower Street, Toronto, ON

The purpose of this event is to provide training and valuable information to tenants on how to deal effectively with various rental housing issues.  You need to register to participate in the ‘tenant school’.

Please refer to this document for more details:  TaylorMassey_Tenant School

Posted in Activism, Apartment Issues, Community Event, Repairs and maintenance, Tenant School | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Cap set on 2013 Rent Increase Guideline

July 11, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

UPDATE – Effective December 31, 2012, rents will be reduced by 0.71%. For more information refer to our post “Automatic Rent Reduction in 2013” https://eastyorktenantsgroup.com/2012/12/13/automatic-rent-reduction-in-2013/

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Annual Rent Increase Guideline for 2013 will be 2.5%.  The 2.5% guideline represents  the maximum percentage by which a landlord can increase rent in 2013.

Tenants should note that the Ontario government bases the calculation of the annual rent increase on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is compiled annually by Statistics Canada.  The CPI which is currently calculated at 2.6% is higher than 2.5% approved for the 2013 annual rent increase. This decrease was the result of legislation passed by the Ontario Government on June 13, 2012 and which  resulted in an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. This amendment ensured that the Annual Rent Increase Guideline for 2013  will be capped at 2.5 per cent.  Is it possible that the government is acknowledging that the CPI formula is flawed and does not reflect the actual cost of living expenses?  Will leave that question for the economists to ponder.

We tenants are grateful that rent increases have been capped and, compared to the 2012 Rent Increase Guideline, there will be a decrease in the annual rent increase guideline for 2013.  However, we must keep in mind that landlords can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an Above Guideline Increase. Landlords will have to make a successful application to the Landlord and Tenant Board in order to raise rents above the capped increase of 2.5%.

Once again the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) have indicated they are not enthused by the level of the annual rent increase. The FRPO argued for a much higher increase in their submission to the Ontario government. Refer to this link: http://www.frpo.org/documents/FRPO%20Bill%2019%20Deputation1.pdf  Fortunately for tenants the legislation passed by the Government of Ontario reflected the current economic realities facing renters and set a cap of 2.5% on the 2013 annual rent increase.

For more detailed information on the 2013 Rent Increase Guideline check these links:

http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2012/06/2013-rent-increase-guideline.html

http://news.ontario.ca/mah/en/2012/06/the-2013-rent-increase-guideline.html

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON LAST MONTH RENT (LMR) – The landlord must pay the tenant interest on the rent deposit every year. Under the Residential  Tenancies Act the interest charged on your last month’s rent will be equal to that year’s Annual Rent Increase Guideline amount. Landlords have the option to add that interest to your last month’s rent deposit or that interest can be applied as a reduction in your annual notice of a rent increase. Check this link: http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/STDPROD_098894.html

Posted in 2013 Rent Increase Guildeline, Above Guideline increase, Annual Guideline Rent Increase, Consumer Price Index, Landlord and Tenant Board, Last month rent | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

Safety and Security in Apartment Buildings – Security Guards to be eliminated

May 21, 2012 by East York Tenants Group

Recently tenants at both 165 and 195 Barrington Avenue apartment buildings became aware of changes to the security system implemented by Ranee Management. Effective the end of May the security guard services will cease.  Instead, tenants will have to rely entirely on the electronic surveillance system that was installed. The installation of the security system is reputed to have cost approximately $50,000 per building.  We need to look carefully at how that stacks up in the long term against the annual salary of $20,000 – $25,000 for security guards monitoring apartment buildings. Any savings should be passed on to tenants in the Continue Reading »

Posted in Apartment Safety, Apartment Security, Electronic surveillance, Ranee Management, Robbery, Safety and Security, Security Camera, Security guards | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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