Toronto Multi-residential Rental Property Licence

This item was considered by Tenant Issues Committee on November 2, 2016 and was adopted with amendments.

Tenant Issues Committee consideration on November 2, 2016

TD4.1

Presentation

Amended

Ward:All

Proposed Framework for a Multi-residential Rental Property Licence - Results of Public Consultation and Proposed Regulations

Committee Decision

Caution: This is a preliminary decision. This decision should not be considered final until the meeting is complete and the City Clerk has confirmed the decisions for this meeting.

The Tenant Issues Committee recommends to the Licensing and Standards Committee that: 1.  City Council adopt a rating system similar to the City's "DineSafe" program that requires landlords to post a colour-coded sign that displays the City's rating in a prominent, publicly identifiable location, along with posting the same information on the City's website. 2. City Council adopt a landlord licensing by-law. 3. City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to model alternative fee structures that would increase registration fees and add by-law officers, but avoid reaching the threshold under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), for municipal charges and fees and include these models in her upcoming report. 4. City Council request the Province to exempt by regulation any program costs from eligibility for a Above Guideline Increase (AGI). 5.  City Council direct staff to strengthen education and tenant outreach via tools like online resources and hard copies of Tenant Rights Handbook. 6.  City Council direct the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report on a schedule to include 3 to 9 units tenanted buildings in the regulatory or licensing by-law. 7.  City Council endorse strong penalties for by-law infractions. 8.  City Council direct the landlord licensing program be funded as follows: a.  20 percent of the budget recovered from the tax base, recognizing the program costs for social housing providers; b.  fees and penalties to cover the remainder of the program.

Decision Advice and Other Information

The Director, Policy and Strategic Support, the Director, Investigation Services and the Senior Policy and Research Officer, Municipal Licensing and Standards gave a presentation on Framework for a Multi-Residential Rental Property Licence.

Summary

The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards Division will give a presentation on Proposed Framework for a Multi-residential Rental Property Licence - Results of Public Consultation and Proposed Regulations.

Background Information

(November 2, 2016) Presentation from the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards on Framework for a Multi-Residential Rental Property Licence  (http://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2016/td/bgrd/backgroundfile-97902.pdf)

Communications

(November 1, 2016) E-mail from Robert Fowlow (TD.Supp.TD4.1.1)

Speakers

Kenn Hale, Director, Legal Services, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario Andrew Marciniak, Lead Organizer, Toronto ACORN John Plumadore, Chair, Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations Dan McIntyre, Paralegal for Tenants Geordie Dent, Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations (FMTA) Helen Lee, Board of Directors, Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations (FMTA) Maryanna Lewyckyj, President, Park Vista Tenants' Association Starr Smith, Chair, Mimico Estates Tenants Association

Motions

1 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Josh Matlow (Lost) That City Council direct that the current initiative to create a licence or regulatory by-law for owners of multi-residential buildings be termed "LiveSafe", and that all future staff reports and City communications regarding this initiative use this term. 2 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Josh Matlow (Carried) That City Council adopt a rating system similar to the City's "DineSafe" program that requires landlords to post a colour-coded sign that displays the City's rating in a prominent, publicly identifiable location, along with posting the same information on the City's website. 3 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Gord Perks (Carried) That City Council adopt a landlord licensing by-law. Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Nov-02-2016 Result: Carried Majority Required Yes: 6 Janet Davis, Mary Fragedakis, Josh Matlow (Chair), Joe Mihevc, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza  No: 0   Absent: 0   4 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Janet Davis (Carried) That the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards model alternative fee structures that would increase registration fees and add by-law officers, but avoid reaching the threshold under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), for municipal charges and fees and include these models in her upcoming report. 5 - Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Councillor Joe Mihevc (Carried) That: 1.  City Council request the Province to exempt by regulation any program costs from eligibility for a Above Guideline Increase (AGI). 2.  Staff be requested to strengthen education and tenant outreach via tools like online resources and hard copies of Tenant Rights Handbook. 3.  The Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards report on a schedule to include 3 to 9 units tenanted buildings in the regulatory or licensing by-law. 4.  City Council endorse strong penalties for by-law infractions. 5.  City Council direct the landlord licensing program be funded as follows: a. 20 percent of the budget recovered from the tax base, recognizing the program costs for social housing providers; b. fees and penalties to cover the remainder of the program. 6 - Motion to Adopt Item as Amended moved by Councillor Josh Matlow (Carried)