The Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-12-10, Page 26PAGE 6A—GODERICH.SIGNAL-STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1986
ANOTHER STEP IOW HOUSING FOR ONTARIO
it new
Rent Revie System me
tote ts and landlords.
Government has paned the Residential Rent
The Ontario review.
Regulation Act, creating a new system of rent
�` reached
This legislation is based upon an agreement
• � and landlords on how to
by a special committee of tenants
improve the rent review system in Ontario.
The basis of the new legislation: to increase
protection
for tenants and to encourage the construction
of new rental housing.
he major features- of the Residential
Rent Regulation Act are:
• The extension of rent review to
cover all private rental units in
Ontario:
• The Creation of a streamlined rent review
process, designed to be accessible, quicker and
ensure consistency.
• The establislunent of a flexible Rent Review
Guideline. adjusted annually to reflect changes
in inflation.
• The creation of an Ontario -wide Rent Registry
to record the maximum legal rent for every
rental unit in the province.
• :1 R.esiden.tial Rental Standards Board to
ensure the proper maintenance of all rental
properties .in. Ontario.
In summary, the new Act provides full .
protection for tenants, while at the same time
encouraging the construction of new rental
housing..
Streamlined, simplified
rent review process
The new rent review process is designed to
be fast, friendly and efficient. Now, disputes
over rent increases can be settled within a
90 -day period.
Through•a network of 21 localRent
Review Offices, tenants and landlords will have
the opportunity to work together with a Rent
Review Administrator.
This Administrator may.arrange meetings
between tenants and landlords, help them in
obtaining and completing any necessary docu-
ments, and generally, be available to provide
free assistance on any aspect of the rent review
process.
As well, each Rent Review Office will be
providing an on-going program of seminars and
workshops. These will be designed specifically
to educate tenants and landlords about all parts
of Rent Review.
Extension of Rent Review
In the past, only those rental units built
prior to 1976.were protected by rent
review.
The new system,:
• All private rental units in Ontario are
protected by rent, review whether they
were built prior to 1976 or afterwards.
•
Rent Review Guideline
Under the previous system, a fixed guide-
line could not always reflect changing
economic conditions. .
The new .v teen:
• A flexible Rent Review Guideline is
adjusted annually and is based on the
change in cost of maintaining a typical
well-run rental building.
• The Guideline calculates the average
change in costs over the preceding
three-year period, protecting tenants
from the.effects of sudden jumps in
inflation.
NOTE: The 40/u Guideline is in effect .-
retroactive from July lst, 1985 to Dec. 31st,
1986. The Guideline for 1987 wilt be
announced within 30 days.
The filing of an application for rent review at
a local office will set in motion a simplified
process. .
The Rent Review Administrator, using
clear and concise rules, will oversee the process
from beginning to end.
A most significant streamlining aspect for
both parties is that landlords will be allowed a
fixed amount for operating costs. The result: the
elimination of lengthy disputes between tenants
and landlords over operating costs.
'lb ensure easy access to Administrators,
all 21 Rent Review Offices in the province will
be Open at hours convenient to the public.
The Rent Registry
Under the previous system, it was not
easy for a tenant to check whether the
rent for their unit was legal.
The ne'w system:
• A computerized Rent Registry will
record the maximum legal rent which
can be charged for every rental unit in
the province. This information will be
• updated annually according to rent
increases set by the new guideline.
• Landlords of buildings containing more
than six rental units will file first, with
landlords of small buildings filing later
• Those landlords required to register
first will file with the Registry the rent
that was actually charged for every
rental unit on July 1, 1985.
• Most landlords will only be required to
register one time.
• information from the Registry comput-
ers will he free of charge and available
to everyone by loll -free telephone.
Ministry
of
Housing
Ontario Hon. Alvin Curling, Minister
Rent Review Appeals.11 a tenant or a land-
lord is dissatisfied with the decision reached by
the Administrator, an appeal can be made to a
new Rent Review 11ear•ings Board.
No fees will he charged for appeals.
Maintenance Standards
In the past, rents could still go up even
though building maintenance went down.
The nor .system:
• A Residential Rental Standards Board
will establish fair standards to ensure
proper maintenance of rental units
'throughout Ontario.
• Failure to meet these standards may
..result.in either suspension or forfeiture
of rent increases.
Full information available
The new Residential Rent Regulation Act makes
major changes in the law affecting both tenants
and landlords across the province.
The implementation of these measures will
begin immediately and will be completed by
February 2, 1987.
If you would like more detailed informa-
tion, please complete and return this coupon.
MINISTRY OF HOUSING
RENT Rl':v1l:W DIVISION
4TH FLOOR
777 BAY STREET
TORONTO, ONTARIO
M5(i 2E5
Send me a copy of the guide to
Onta.r•io s` new Rent Review System:
Send today yourguide for to Ontario's new Rent Review System.
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