Recently, Bill 60 was passed into Royal Assent in Ontario, initiating several changes in hopes to improve the rental industry, as well as how planning decisions are made. Here is a summary of the updates that could affect you if you are a landlord/investor or a renter:
Eviction Compensation – previously, landlords terminating leases for either personal use or selling the rental property (essentially displacing the tenant) were required to pay one month’s rent in compensation to the tenant. Under the new rules, this is no longer required as long as landlords provide 120 days notice of the termination.
Shorter Eviction Notice for Rent Arrears – if a tenant does not pay their rent on time, landlords used to have to wait 14 days before filing for an eviction. Under the new rules, this period is shortened to 7 days.
Appeal Window Reduced – tenants used to have 30 days to appeal a Landlord and Tenant Board decision, but now this appeal time has been reduced to 15 days, in an effort to reduce the length of time for any dispute process.
Limits on Evidence at Hearings – previously, tenants could introduce new evidence or grievances during a Landlord and Tenant Board hearing, but that will no longer be allowed once hearings begin. Again, this is designed to increase efficiency of these hearings so that these proceedings do not drag on for longer than necessary.
Housing Minister Gains More Power – Under the new changes, planning authority is being consolidated under the provincial housing minister (and away from municipalities)
Faster LTB Processes – new changes to try to “speed up” Landlord and Tenant Board decisions, in hopes to reduce backlogs and delays, including tighter rules on postponing eviction orders
Other – other changes include ones affecting zoning/development
Supporters of the Bill feel that it cuts bureaucracy and gives investors/landlords a bit of a break, while critics argue that it weakens tenant rights and centralizes power. If you’d like to understand more about Bill 60, please let us know how we can help you navigate how these new changes might affect you personally.
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