[URBAN NOTE] "City eyes legalizing rooming houses in North York, East York and Scarborough"

[rfmcdonald]

Betsy Powell and Alicja Siekierska describe in the Toronto Star the push to legalize rooming houses in outlying districts of Toronto. I think this a good idea: When I first moved to Toronto, I lived in one. In an expensive market, they make sense.

The door appears to be opening to legal rooming houses across Toronto — including in North York and Scarborough, where many operate illegally despite local prohibitions.

“I would like to see a system that understands that these homes exist, not only in areas where they exist right now, but in areas all across the city,” said Councillor Ana Bailao, council’s housing advocate.

“They house a variety of residents, students, new Canadians, and others (for whom) that’s all they can afford. It’s an important part of the housing spectrum, and we need to make sure that we keep tenants safe.”

Rooming houses are currently permitted and regulated in Etobicoke and within the old city of Toronto. Owner-operators are charged a fee and must agree to annual inspections from licensing, building and fire department personnel.

In York, they can operate without a licence.

In total, there are 433 rooming houses operating legally.