HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-01-07, Page 7Ontario
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These are the facts:
Ontario's new Residential Premises Rent Review
Act affects most landlords and tenants in the
province, The act allows for a review of the
amount of rent a landlord may charge.
Landlords and tenants should he aware of their
rights and responsibilities under this legislation.
The Ontario Government is in the process of
establishing rent review offices in major centres
across the province. Review officers will hear
disputes on rent increases by both landlords and
tenants.
A rent review board is being established to hear
appeals by tenants and landlords against the
decisions of rent review officers.
What does the act cover?
• apartments • houses • townhouses • duplexes
• triplexes •-rooming houses • mobile-home sites
• rent-geared-to-income units
What are the exceptions?
• certain non-profit housing or non-profit
co-operatives
• units in a hotel, motel or vacation home which
are rented for a' seasonal or temporary period
not exceeding four months
• buildings that were first occupied as residential
premises on 'or after Jan. 1, 1976.
• commercial premises
How does it work?
If you have entered into or renewed a tenancy
agreement which became effective between July 30,
and Dec. 31, 1975, inclusive, vou should he aware
that:
The maximum rent increase for such agreements
cannot exceed eight per cent of the rent charged
during the last full month prior to Aug. 1, 1975,
unless:
(a) the tenant and landlord agree on a higher rate
of rent, or
(b) the landlord obtains the necessary approval
from a rent review officer.
" A landlord may apply to a rent review officer for
permission to increase rent rrnire than eight pet'
cent. A tenant may file an application with the
landlord requiring hit to justify any increase.
These applications must be made by Jan. 31, 1976.
Should a landlord and tenant agree on an
increase in rent above the eight per,eent guide-
line, they must complete and sign a rent increase
agreement no later than Jan. 17, 1976, Copies of
these agreements should be kept by both parties.
Forms may be obtained by writing Rent Review
Box 580. Postal Station F. Toronto. M4Y 2L8. Or
you may wish to use the (Orin published recently
in this newspaper. '
However, a tenant may cancel such an agreement
by completing a statement of revocation within
30 days of the signing of the agreement.
By sighing a rent increase agreement the tenant
waives the: right to appeal the increase during, the
period My b tiwi 30, to bee. 11. 1975. The tenalso'-
waives the right to collect a rebate dreent as
provided' for in this act, other than, the amount of
rebate, i fatly, stated in the rent increase agreement.
Refit increase tigreenients do not apply rbr any
period after bee. 31. 1975, and do hot constitute a
Waiver of the tenant's right to appeal the amount
of refit changed On or after Jan, L 1976,,
The rent increase aereements do not relieve the
landlord from his Aligation to obtain approval
from a rent review officer for any rent increase
chareed on or after Jan. I. 1976 that is more than
eight per cent of the July, 1975 rent.
Where the landlord and tenant do not agree on a
rent increase abovethe eight'per cent, the tenant,
is entitled to a rebate of any rent paid in excess of
eight per cent by Feb. 16, 1976. II the landlord
fails to make such a rebate the tenant may apply
to a rent review officer.
ifa tenancy agreement becomes effective or is
l'enewed between ..lan!. I, and ulv 1976. inclusive.
you should k nmv.-
A :landlord who wishes an increase of more than
eight per cent must tile an application with his
rent review office and notify the tenant at least (It)
days befOre the increase is scheduled to become'
effective. In respect to-those rental increases —
taking effect between Jan. 1. and Feb. 29. 1976:
the application must be made by Jan. 31. 1976.
A tenant who wishes to appeal an increase has 60
days in which to file an application with his
landlord requiring him to justify the increase.
In case of a hearing, a date will be set by the rent
review officer and both landlord and tenant will
be notified.
After the hearing the rent review officer will
establish the rent, and may order retroactive
adjustments.
What is a tenancy agreement?
A tenancy agreement gives a tenant the right to
occupy a particular dwelling. or to renew
the right to rent a particular dwelling.
The agreement can be written,
verbal or implied. hi other words,,
even if you don't have a written
lease you are covered .by the
legislation.
For written agreements, the
important date is the
date the agreement
comes, into effect,
not the date on
which the -
agreement
is siaried.
Rent review legislation is tied to the dwelling on
an annual basis with the July. 1975. rent taken as
the base rent.
Who attends'hearings?
Tenants. landlords or their representatives should
attend rent review hearings. Failure to appear or
he represented removes the right to appeal the.
"' rent review decision.
The hearings will' he informal, and every effort
will he Macre to keep. the procedures simple so
that individuals may conduct their own cases..
A rent review officer has the power to call
witneses -and to order the production of the
'necessary documents, "
Tenams .should be aware that. .should they appeal.
tluir rent increase 10 a rent review officer, the
olfieer'could perntit du, landlord a greater increase
than the one originally demanded.
11/here a landlord has been required to just:fir an
existing or proposed rent increase. the rent review
officer nun' adjust the rent to an unienyll below the •
original rent level.
Until the rent review mechanism is in place.
lease do not telephone, You can obtain further
'qrrnation on the Residential Premises Rent
Re ew Act by writing:
Ren ,Review,
Box 580.
Postal Station F.
Toronto. M4Y 21.8
THE BRUSSELS .000-- JANYAilY 196