The Responsible Housing Provider ‑‑ Proposed Amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act

March 27th, 2013 by Celia Chandler

The recently introduced bill related to co-op housing eviction reform included something new: an amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act that would allow the Landlord and Tenant Board to waive or defer application fees charged to low-income Ontario tenants.

This seems to have caught everyone off-guard including the PC housing critic who expresses his concern that while the filing fee is nominal, $45, this change could lead to an increase in tenant applications on an already over burdened system. Continue reading “The Responsible Housing Provider ‑‑ Proposed Amendment to the Residential Tenancies Act”

Offering Statements for Co-ops 101

March 22nd, 2013 by Iler Campbell

Brian recently presented a webinar offering statements for co-operatives to the CoopZone Legal Network. Offering statements can be a powerful tool for financing a project from the grassroots.  If you’re curious about how to go about raising money through an offering statement give Brian’s presentation a read (pdf) or give us a call.

UPDATE: CoopZone has made a transcript of this webinar avialble. Check it out (pdf). Also see a sample offering statement  here.

Co-op Eviction Reform back on the agenda at Queen’s Park

March 20th, 2013 by Celia Chandler

Last October’s prorogation of the legislature stalled the much‑anticipated co‑operative housing eviction reform bill.   Building on the momentum this issue had in the fall session, just a few short days after the new session began, Bill 14, the eviction reform bill, was given first reading (February 27, 2013).

Continue reading “Co-op Eviction Reform back on the agenda at Queen’s Park”

The Responsible Housing Provider ‑‑ Excessive Clutter

March 18th, 2013 by Celia Chandler

This is information only and is not intended to be taken as legal advice. If you have a case of excessive clutter, we urge you to talk to your lawyer and work out a plan that meets your  duties and minimises your liability.

Housing providers often ask: (1) how to clean up an excessively cluttered unit (often this is referred to using the term “hoarding”), and (2) whether they can evict the occupants. These questions raise a number of legal issues.

Human Rights: Excessive clutter can result from mental illness. The Human Rights Code obliges a housing provider to accommodate mental illness to the point of undue hardship. Undue hardship is a very high threshold, assessed on cost (including external funding), health and safety. Where there is a suspected or known mental illness, consult with a lawyer to find a way to satisfy the duty to accommodate. For example, providing the most appropriate help with fumigation preparation, often necessary in cluttered units, helps defend against allegations that you have not met the duty to accommodate.

Continue reading “The Responsible Housing Provider ‑‑ Excessive Clutter”

Join the GTA Co-op Network

March 12th, 2013 by Iler Campbell LLP

A few members from various co-ops came together recently to create the GTA Co-op Network, with a mission to create online and offline networking and education events.

This informal group came out of the realization that there is a gap in networking and promotion between Toronto & GTA co-ops, and a need to educate the general public about co‑ops.

The GTA Co-op Network’s first step was creating a Facebook group page.

The next step is to host some great events all over the GTA, to promote + educate.

Please feel free to email the GTA Co-op Network Facebook page for more information or/and, if you would like to volunteer, offer space, or  have a great idea to spread the word about GTA Co-ops: [email protected]

If you’re not a fan of Facebook, the organizers have also set up a Google email group account.  You can join the group here.

Please feel free to join even if you are outside of the GTA.

A victory for better planning advocates — and without breaking the bank

March 5th, 2013 by Paula Boutis

In November 2011, we posted a blog about cost effective strategies to promote better planning and development in your neighbourhood.  As part of that post, we encouraged community groups who have appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) to seriously consider settlement as a way to achieve goals and avoid a costly hearing.

Recently, I became aware of a decision where a community group, Centretown Citizens in Ottawa, did just that, and is happy to brag about it.  You can find their story here.  Centretown notes, quite rightly, that not only is it costly for the citizens groups to proceed with an OMB hearing, but a massive drain on the municipality’s coffers — public money — too.

Congratulations to the Centretown Citizens on finding a satisfactory resolution, and saving the taxpayers of Ottawa and other engaged citizens valuable resources.