HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-01-07, Page 12Citizens News, Jan. 7/76 -Page 13
Ontario
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 hoard 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 renewc'd a to ncmep
agreement .which became effective between lull. 30,
and Dec. 31, 1975, inclusive, you 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. I, 1975,
unless:
(a) the tenant and landlord agree on a higher rate
of rent. or
(h) 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 more than eight per
cent. A tenant may file an application with the
landlord requiring him to justify any increase.
These applications must he made by Jan. 31. 1976.
Should a landlord and tenant agree on an
increase in rent above the eight per cent guide-
line. they must complete and sign a rent increase
agreement no later than Jan. 17. 1976. Copies of
these agreements should he kept by both parties.
Forms mav he obtained by writing Rent Review.
13ox 580. Postal Station F..Toronto. M4Y 21.8. Or
von mav wish to use the form published recently
in this newspaper.
1low ever. a tenant ma\ eaneel such an agreement
by completing a statement of revocation within
3i1 dais of thesigning ()I' the agreement.
13v signing a rent increase agreement the tenant
wives the right to appeal the increase during the
period .1ul\ 30. to Dee. 31. 1975. The tenant also
waives the right to collect a rebate ol'rent as
provided t r in this act. other than the amount of
rebate. ifany. stated in the rent increase agreement.
Rent increase agreements do not apply for any
period after Dec. 31. 1975. and do not constitute a
waiver or the tenants right to appeal the amount
of rent charged on or after .les. I. 1976.
The rent increase agreements do not relieve the
landlord from his obligation to obtain approval
from a rent review officer fi,r any rent increase
charged on or after Jan. 1. 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 above the eight per cent. the tenant
is entitled to a rebate orally rent paid in excess o1'
eight per cent by Feb. 16, 1976. lithe landlord
fails to make such a rebate the tenant mug' apply
to a rent review officer.
If a tenunc•t• agreement becomes effective in' is
renewed between .Ian, 1. and .1ult 1, 1976, inclusive,
you should knon•:
A landlord Nvho wishes an increase of more than
eight per cent must file an application with his
rent ret iew office and notify the tenant at least 6(1
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 he made by .tan. 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 he set by the rent
review officer and both landlord and tenant will
he notified.
After tilt 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.
'1 he agreement con he written.
verbal or implied. In 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 cllect.
not the date on
which the
agreement
is signed.
Rent review legislation is tied to the dwelling on
an annual basis Nvith the ,lulu. 1975, rent taken as
the Kase rent.
Who attends hearings?
Tenants, landlords or their representatives should
attend rent review hearings. Failure to appear or
be represented removes the right to appeal the
rent review officer's decision.
The hearings will be informal, and every effort
will be nude to keep the procedures simple so
that individuals may conduct their own cases.
A rent review officer has the power to cull
witnesses and to order the production of the
necessary documents.
"Tenants should he aware tlutt, should they appeal
their rent increase to 0 rent review officer; the
officer• eoule! permit the landlord ct greater increase
than the one originallt• demanded.
11 here a landlord hos been required to justify an
existing or proposed rant inc'r'ease, the rent review
officer may adjust the rent 10 an amount below the
ori,Efinal rem leve'!.
until the rent review mechanism is in place,
please do not telephone. You can obtain further
information on the Residential Premises Rent
Review Act by writing:
Rent Review,
13ox 580,
Postal Station 1",
'ioronto, M4Y 21.8
Province of Ontario