Hamilton’s planning committee approves new tenant protection bylaw proposal

The City of Hamilton is moving closer to new protection for renters especially those with low income. In the face of the current rental crisis, the city’s planning committee approved proposals for a new tenant protection bylaw on Tuesday.

With people forced to live in tents, the ACORN tenants’ rights group say it’s time for officials to act.

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Linda Boos from ACORN said, “Our city council needs to step up. The province needs to step up.”

They were at city hall on Tuesday to call for new rules for landlords who plan to evict tenants to renovate or demolish apartments.

Pauline Roberts from ACORN said, “We would love to have a bylaw do the work so that there is no demolition where they take away apartments, affordable apartments, and build these condos that nobody has any place to go.”

The city’s planning committee came up with suggestions for a tenant protection bylaw, including:

• Financial compensation for someone evicted because of a renovation or demolition, three months rent.
• Moving expenses for the renter of between $1,500 and $2,500.
• Special needs assistance of up to three months rent.
• Rent gap payments. The landlord would cover the difference between the tenant’s current rent and rent for another unit.
• The bylaw would apply to “any site with six or more dwelling units, and at least one rental unit.”

The measures are aimed particularly at low-income people including those on disability or Ontario Works whose rent can take up most of their income.

Christine Neale from ACORN said, “So you’re going from paying $700, $800, $900, and how you have to pay twice as much as that that’s beyond ridiculous.”

“You’ve gotta stop them being able to raise those rents to whatever they want whenever people move out because people are suffering now, when you walk down the streets, people can’t afford anything. They’re living in tents,” Boos said.

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The planners said they’re trying to protect tenants and balance the interests of landlords.

The committee voted to send the proposals to city council for consideration.