[URBAN NOTE] "Toronto considers apartment licensing to crack down on bad landlords"

[rfmcdonald]

Laurie Monsebraaten writes at the Toronto Star about an interesting new proposal. I'm all for it, thankfully not at all because of personal experience.

Toronto is contemplating a licensing system for apartment buildings — similar to the city’s Dine Safe restaurant program — to give inspectors more teeth when landlords fail to meet minimum property standards.

The proposed Rent Safe program would apply to about 3,300 rental buildings with 10 units or more that are three storeys or higher, according to a city staff report. Condos and co-ops would be excluded.

If approved by council next fall, it could be in place as early as January 2017.

Aspects of the proposal, including the possibility of prohibiting landlords with outstanding work orders from applying for rent increases or leasing vacant units, are on the city’s licensing and standards committee agenda next Thursday. The proposed “Rent Safe” name is also up for discussion.