Tenants say ‘flimsy’ law opens door to ‘renovictions’
This is my response to the article that can be found by going here:
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2018/03/23/tenants-say-flimsy-law-opens-door-to-renovictions.html
My response is simple and I’m saying this as a person who rents in Toronto, Ontario Canada. Get rid of rental controls altogether. Prior to ridding the city of rental controls raise the price to enforce the eviction of a tenant via a rental increase above 2.5% for any reason.
If a tenant has been paying their rents on time within 15 days of the due date of any given month. Any annual rental control increase higher than 2.5% is subject to an enforcement penalty set by the city which is subject to change and subject to a tier basis. Meaning if the eviction of 1 tenant is $100, the eviction of 2 tenants in the same month for the same reason will be $300, for 3 tenants $600 and for four tenants in the same month $1200.
Also any rental increase that is more than 2.5% annually also subjects the the property owner to a property tax increase. Furthermore property owners will also be subject to a vacancy tax for units that are unoccupied for more 6 months per year. Individuals who purchase Condos as investment properties, or unoccupied units will also be subject to this tax. Any attempt made by landowners to purposely manipulate rental market properties well lend such rental property owners to penalties deemed fit by the municipal government.
Rental properties price will based on MPAC(Municipal Property Assessment Corporation) valuations. Any upgrades to units or properties must be reported to avoid incorrect valuations.
Furthermore the city of Toronto will have it’s own website which allows Tenants of any rental unit to report and detail their experience with any rental property in Toronto. The Landlord(s) will also have the ability to rebut any incorrect statements made by the renter. Profiles must be legitimate prior to any posting.
I personally believe doing the aforementioned will create a better balance to the Toronto rental markets.