By: Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
A municipal bylaw designed to stop so-called “renovictions” in Chatham-Kent will be considered at the Feb. 9 council meeting.
The motion, brought forward by Chatham Coun. Marjorie Crew, details steps that can be taken to stop predatory landlords from evicting people based on renovations designed to get rid of long-term tenants who pay modest rents.
Crew’s motion comes on the heels of news that all 40 residents living at Terrace Forty Apartments in Chatham received an N-13 notice from their new landlord. It says tenants must vacate their apartments for an eight-month period to allow for extensive renovations the landlord said are needed to deal with the dangers of asbestos and lead, as well as other renovations such as kitchen updates.
Terrace 40 tenants were also offered N-11 “cash for keys” notices, stating they would receive $5,000 if they voluntarily vacate their tenancy by March 31.
According to paralegal Jeff Wilkins, a housing stability worker for the Chatham-Kent Legal Clinic, the documents handed out to residents are part of a “scare tactic,” as the renovations proposed by the landlord can be done without the apartments being empty.
Wilkins thinks an N-13 bylaw is necessary.
“I think it’s time now we do need a bylaw for N-13s,” Wilkins told The Voice.” We don’t have a lot of N-13s in Chatham but when we do, they are bulk, mass evictions.”
Renovictions are happening all over Ontario, he added, noting once a tenant loses an affordable apartment “it’s gone forever.
“People who give up their tenancy may not realize that their rent will likely double at a new place,” he said. “It can mean that someone who is low income may not be able to afford food, medications and even their rent – which in turn can lead to homelessness.”
Crew and Wilkins, and other councillors, have met with residents twice to help dial back the fear they’ll be evicted and to guide them through the process of maintaining their tenancy. A total of 33 tenants at Terrace Forty have indicated they want to stay.
C-K Mayor Darrin Canniff, who attended one of the meetings, said he supports a bylaw to stop renovictions.
Greedy landlords are “predators” he added.
“It’s an underhanded way to get everyone out of the building and we certainly can’t have this guy moving forward with this,” Canniff said, noting such actions “destroy people’s lives.”
In commenting on the issue, Crew said she hopes the bylaw will receive support.
“I hope that council sees the value in moving forward with this N-13 bylaw to help protect tenants facing situations where owners want to weaponize the N-13,” Crew explained. “We need to make sure that we protect all of these affordable rental units. The fewer we have; the more people we have who are vulnerable to homelessness.”
Under Ontario law, tenants who vacate their units for N-13 renovations are allowed to return when work is complete, paying the same amount of rent. However, many don’t return as it’s difficult for renters to secure housing for a lengthy renovation period.
The proposed bylaw is based on legislation adopted in other Ontario cities such as Hamilton and Toronto in an attempt to keep people housed and stop renovictions.
A N-13 bylaw in C-K would require a landlord to get a license for the renovations that require vacancy and to justify the need for the work.
If Crew’s motion is approved, municipal staff will be directed to consult with communities that have similar bylaws, including how it would be enforced. The report is slated to come back before council in June.
