Tenants
Ward 22 has the highest percentage of tenants in Toronto. I am committed to working closely with tenants and the provincial government to restore real rent control to curb spiralling apartment rates.
I also understand that the relationship between a tenant and a landlord can often be difficult and confusing. If you rent an apartment or house you have special rights and responsibilities that are governed by City of Toronto by-laws and provincial legislation. Tenants have the right to live in a clean, well-maintained building and not be subjected to rent increases above the provincially mandated increase without reasonable justification, or eviction without a fair hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
The following contact information is for various organizations and agencies that are able to assist you with information, advice and support if you encounter any issues related to your tenancy. As always, please feel free to contact my office for help with any issue related to your
apartment or rental agreement.
City of Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards: 311 (toronto.ca/311)
Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants’ Associations: (416) 921-9494
Housing Connections (TCHC): (416) 981-6111
Toronto Rent Bank: (416) 924-2543
Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board: (416) 645-8080
Chair & Members
Planning & Growth Committee
10th Floor, West Tower, City Hall
100 Queen St. West
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
March 5, 2013
Re: PG 18.7 (1)
Dear Chair and Committee Members,
We are writing to request that the Committee consider the accompanying recommendation to prohibit paid visitor parking in multi residential/apartment buildings.
While the City of Toronto has the authority to change the zoning in relation to apartments, removing this amenity may have complicated consequences for tenants and landlords under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Part VII, Section 125 states:
A landlord shall decrease the rent charged to a tenant for a rental unit as prescribed if the landlord and the tenant agree that the landlord will cease to provide anything referred to in subsection 123(1) [which includes a parking space or a prescribed service, facility, privilege, accommodation or thing] with respect to the tenant’s occupancy of the rental unit.
Allowing paid visitor parking may require each individual tenant to apply for a rent reduction (or challenge the removal of the amenity) to the landlord and/or the Landlord and Tenant Board. We submit that it would be unfair to subject tenants to such an onerous process.
Beyond the legal question, we do not believe that allowing paid visitor parking would address the problem of parking lot abuse, or "walk aways", as landlords contend.
Committee members have received correspondence from property owners and managers claiming that charging for parking does not bring in additional revenue and is solely aimed at better "regulating" visitor lots by keeping non-visitors out. If no differentiation is made in regards to who pays the ticket, adding a pay and display machine will not ensure that only legitimate tenant visitors are using the allotted spaces.
If the goal is to ensure that only those visiting tenants are using the lots there are many other avenues to achieve that end. For example, an electronic passcard issued to tenants that opens a gate or a pass issued by a superintendent to display on the dash are two possible solutions.
We urge you not to unfairly take an amenity away from the 50% of Torontonians that are tenants by moving forward with the Committee's recommendation to allow landlords to charge for visitor parking.
Recommendations:
- Direct that the draft Zoning By-law be amended to retain the prohibition on paid visitor parking in multi-residential/apartment buildings, previously recommended for deletion by the Planning & Growth Management Committee on October 12, 2012 (item PG 18.7 )
- Request the Chief Planner to set up a working group of tenants and landlords to address instances of abuse at visitor parking lots without charging for access
- Request that the working group identified in (2) report to the Planning & Growth Management Committee by June 2013
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow and Jaye Robinson
Toronto City Councillor Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul's Ward 25 – Don Valley West
www.joshmatlow.ca www.jayerobinson.com
What is the law that governs the relationship between tenants and landlords?
A: The provincial Residential Tenancies Act (2007). This legislation also governs the provincial Landlord and Tenant Board located right around the corner at Yonge and St. Clair.
Why can my landlord raise my rent every year? Who decides what the amount is?
A: The provincial government has permitted landlords to raise rents on an annual basis by a "Guideline" amount that is tied to the Consumer Price Index. In 2011 that amount was .7% so many tenants didn't notice if landlords even bothered to raise it. Unfortunately, for 2012 the amount was 3.1%. The provincial government realized this amount was too hard of a burden on tenants and is moving forward with new legislation that would cap the Guideline increase at 2.5%.
What is an Above the Guideline Rent Increase (AGI)? Can I appeal it?
A: An AGI is a rent increase above the "Guideline" that a landlord can apply for through the Landlord and Tenant Board to cover the cost of capital repairs such as replacing elevators or balconies. As a tenant, you have the ability to appeal this amount at a hearing before the Landlord and Tenant board. The City has a tenants' Defence fund that is setup to help tenants with legal costs associated with AGI hearings.
Is my landlord responsible for providing a certain amount of heat in my apartment?
A: A landlord shall provide heat to a dwelling unit that is rented or leased and that is normally heated at the landlord's expense so that a 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. Please phone 311 if the minimum heat standard is not being met. MLS will come to your place and take readings and enforce the by-law if warranted.
Is my landlord responsible for keeping my apartment in a state of good repair?
A: A landlord is responsible for providing tenants with a clean, pest-free living environment with working appliances. Common areas must be well-lit and provide functioning elevators, hand rails, etc. Please phone 311 to have MLS investigate any of these issues in your building.
My landlord has put a lot of stipulations in my lease that prevent me from having children, a pet or guests over. Is that legitimate?
A: No. The Residential Tenancies Act super cedes anything written in a lease. If you think you have been discriminated against, you can call the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (CERA) at 416-944-0087. CERA also has a website at www.equalityrights.org/cera.
Can my landlord or Superintendent enter my unit at any time?
A: No. A property owner is also allowed to enter your apartment to:
- do a maintenance inspection;
- to allow a potential purchaser to view the unit;
- or if you have indicated a reason for entry (like cleaning services) in your
The property owner must give you 24 hours written notice before entering and they may only enter between 8 am and 8 pm.
My apartment building does not have green bins? Is it possible for our building to get one?
A: The City of Toronto is in the process of phasing in the Green Bin Program for multi-unit dwellings. If your building is not using the Green Bin program, you could contact your building manager regarding the matter.
August 10th, 2012
Homestead Property Management
890 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1V9
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you regarding my concerns about property and facility maintenance at 890 Mount Pleasant Road.
It has recently come to my attention that there is a large amount of furniture and other items strewn on the front lawn of the property. It is unsightly, and I would appreciate if you would address this matter immediately.
In addition to the furniture, the outdoor pool on your property does not appear to be in use at all. Seeing as your website boasts the pool as one of its many amenities, I am sure your residents would appreciate its use during the remaining few weeks of summer.
I would appreciate a prompt response from you, outlining a timetable for resolving these concerns.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul's
August 10th, 2012
Homestead Property Management
890 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1V9
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you regarding my concerns about property and facility maintenance at 890 Mount Pleasant Road.
It has recently come to my attention thAugust 10th, 2012
Homestead Property Management
890 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1V9
To whom it may concern,
I am writing to you regarding my concerns about property and facility maintenance at 890 Mount Pleasant Road.
It has recently come to my attention that there is a large amount of furniture and other items strewn on the front lawn of the property. It is unsightly, and I would appreciate if you would address this matter immediately.
In addition to the furniture, the outdoor pool on your property does not appear to be in use at all. Seeing as your website boasts the pool as one of its many amenities, I am sure your residents would appreciate its use during the remaining few weeks of summer.
I would appreciate a prompt response from you, outlining a timetable for resolving these concerns.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul's
at there is a large amount of furniture and other items strewn on the front lawn of the property. It is unsightly, and I would appreciate if you would address this matter immediately.
In addition to the furniture, the outdoor pool on your property does not appear to be in use at all. Seeing as your website boasts the pool as one of its many amenities, I am sure your residents would appreciate its use during the remaining few weeks of summer.
I would appreciate a prompt response from you, outlining a timetable for resolving these concerns.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul's
August 9th, 2012
Mike Imseis
Property Manager
200 Roehampton Avenue
Toronto, ON
M4P 1R8
Dear Mr. Imseis,
I have recently been contacted by several of your tenants at 200 Roehampton Avenue with concerns regarding pests in the building and issues with the elevators.
It has come to my attention that tenants have spotted cockroaches and rats in the building. Pests pose a serious health risk to tenants and impact the well-being of everyone who lives there.
In addition, I have been informed that your elevator has been encountering some technical issues, including making sudden, shaking motions. While this is a major problem in of itself, I have also been told that building staff are hesitant to put it out of service when its behaviour is questionable. A broken elevator that is not taken out of service poses a significant safety risk, especially to seniors and tenants with disabilities.
I would appreciate a prompt response from you, outlining an immediate timetable for resolving these concerns. Tenants' safety and quality of life is very important to me and should be a priority for us all.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul's
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