Posts Tagged ‘rent increase’

Ontario Caps Rent Increases to 2.5%

Sunday, December 11th, 2011

December 11th, 2011

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty

 

The press release came last Tuesday.  It shocked a lot of landlords in Ontario!

What’s the news?

Beginning in 2013, the Ontario government will cap annual rent increases to 2.5%, not matter how much inflation is.

Here’s the Ontario government propaganda:

December 6, 2011 1:00 PM

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO STABILIZE RENT INCREASE GUIDELINE TO PROTECT TENANTS

Legislation to be introduced today would, if passed, ensure that the annual Rent Increase Guideline is capped at 2.5 per cent to protect tenants and families.

The proposed changes would also ensure that the annual Rent Increase Guideline never falls below one per cent. 

Tenants would benefit from greater certainty that would ensure affordable and stable rents so they have safe and affordable housing. For landlords, this would ensure a fair return so they can properly maintain rental properties.

The guideline would continue to be based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index. If passed, the new guideline formula would take effect starting in 2013.

Ontario continues to build new affordable housing and repair existing units for families with housing needs. The province’s investments in affordable housing have created thousands of jobs and resulted in the construction and repair of 270,000 housing units and the provision of 35,000 rent supplements for Ontario families on fixed incomes.

What do you think, Alberta Landlords?  In Ontario no matter what the inflation rate is, rents are capped.

To read more go to the Ontario Landlords Association website here Ontariolandlord.ca

 

MPP issues bill to address rent control exemption

Friday, June 17th, 2011

The Ontario Landlord Association calls it “irresponsible”

After receiving a complaint from a constituent about a steep rent hike, Norm Sterling introduced a Bill late last month to address a little known part of the Residential Tenancies Act that prevents rent control on properties constructed after 1991. (more…)

The Toronto Sun: Ontario Rent Hike Lowest in 35 Years

Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Ontario’s rent hike lowest in 35 years

By ANTONELLA ARTUSO, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief
Last Updated: January 2, 2011 5:20pm

Ontario rents will be allowed to edge up by only 0.7% in 2011.

It is the lowest increase in the 35-year history of the province’s rent guideline — the maximum annual rent increase allowable without seeking special approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board for a heftier hike.

“The McGuinty government is providing real protection for tenants by linking the rent increase guideline to the Ontario Consumer Price Index which prevents routine rent increases above the rate of inflation while ensuring landlords can recover increases in their costs,” said Liberal cabinet minister Jim Bradley.

Stuart Henderson, a moderator with the Ontario Landlords Association, which typically represents property owners with less than five units for rent, said the tiny increase has many of the group’s members wondering if they can afford to stay in the business.

“We’re the ones that are paying all these new costs — the price of gas, hydro, the HST — and then we kind of get kicked in the stomach with a 0.7% increase,” he said. “It leaves kind of the worst landlords in the market, people who are renting out fire traps, illegal places.”

The next provincial election will be held in October, and Henderson said the McGuinty government is clearly currying favour with tenants.

“It’s political opportunism,” he charged. “We feel that the McGuinty government is trying to protect against a backlash from tenants in Toronto.”

Geordie Dent, executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, said landlords may be complaining now but they weren’t protesting when the province allowed yearly increases in the range of 5% in the 1990s.

The recession has been very hard on many tenants, and unemployment in Toronto continues to hover at about 10%, he said.

”It’s not renting out a movie at Blockbusters — it’s people’s housing,” Dent said. “Any increase right now during this difficult time is hard for any tenant.”

Also, Ontario does not have “real” rent control because the landlord is only obliged to follow the guideline for an existing tenant, he said.

“If you move into a unit, though, a landlord can charge you whatever he wants,” Dent said. “The last tenant could have been paying $500 a month and they can charge you $2,000.”

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/02/16734661.html