Archive for the ‘Good Tenant Tips’ Category

Friday, June 12th, 2020

There lots of good landlords out there.  The problem is there are even more bad landlords.

These bad landlords either don’t know the laws or know them and don’t care…as they think they can intimidate you.

Fight back….and fight back hard and you can win!  Please read our helpful articles here to help good tenants defeat and punish bad landlords.  Good landlords have nothing to worry about and will be appreciated even more by good tenants.

I Took Mercy On My Landlord And Saved Them From Bankruptcy – But With Conditions

Monday, May 11th, 2020

Treat Tenants Like the VIPs!  You Need Our Rent Money!

I’m Proud To Have Helped My LL Survive & Not Go Bankrupt

When our premier announced that tenants do not have to pay rent during this horrible crisis tenants face I immediately felt better.

It was nice to know the government understood what I was dreading and said there will be “NO EVICTIONS” until the crisis is over. With businesses closed and workers being laid off, how could we pay the rent for the next six months or more?

I saw on FB and on signs in my area that many Tenants in financial trouble were saying we didn’t have to pay rent at all.  The reason is because we can’t be evicted we didn’t have to pay rent.

So If You Don’t Pay Rent Nothing Happens?

This sounded almost too good to be true. I didn’t have to pay any rent for the next few months or more…maybe up to year.

The premier also said tenants should only “pay what you can” and not make paying rent a priority.

So he basically was saying, make up your budget and put rent last.

I Have A Great Relationship With My Landlord

Since moving in a couple years ago I’m very happy here in my Home.

The landlords are nice people who gave me a very low rent to begin with because I’m a working woman who is rarely at home with great credit so they thought I was their perfect tenant.

Ideal Tenant (Working woman, not home much, great credit) Gets Discount

They gave me 20% of market rent right off the bat because they praised me as being the type of person landlords want to rent to. Of course landlords are sexist and love renting to women and I love how this stereotype helps me.

This made me very happy to hear and they gave me the discount on what they were advertising because I said I was going to be renting for at least a few years while I built up my savings.

I Could Pay No Rent, But I Worked Out A Rebate Plan 

Since I have such a good relationship with my landlords (they love me, I’m never home and never late paying) I learned a lot.

Most landlords are not independently wealthy and cannot afford to pay the mortgage out of their own pocket. They need rent every month just to survive. I understood that and they explained how tough their current situation was. So decided to help them survive. 

I Paid Rent…But 40%  That Was Fair To Both Sides

I made my own budget and made sure my most important expenses were on top of the list and the rent was at the bottom (but still there, as it’s only fair to my landlord).

I calculated my decreased salary due to less hours minus my main expenses for survival during this crisis. Most important expenses over rent:

-Stocking up on canned food and wine

-Buying food for fresh daily eating

-Costs of ordering Take-Out and the extra costs for UberEats, etc.

-Costs of feeding my cat and ordering her food.

-Ordering clothes I will need if I’m stuck in my Home for a long time. Fresh panties are always refreshing. A girl in a cage needs comfy too!

-Order creams to keep me looking youthful at L’occitane

-Saving for masks and potential medicines.

-Entertainment such as renewing my Netflix, CBS, and Amazon Prime accounts.

I Paid Rent…And Helped My Landlord Stay In Business

After all my budget expenses I ended up paying my landlord 40% of the usual amount.

My landlord was happy to get the rent without any issues and with no haggling.

This was not a ‘deferral’ it was what I would pay, period. For April and for future months up to the end of my lease.

They appreciated me even paying and I’m happy I did the right thing to help them would I could have paid $1 if I was the evil, nasty type of bitch.

Work With Your Landlord Like I Did

I could have just said I didn’t have the money but I know my landlord who are a nice couple so I decided to work with them like the Premier said.

40% Paid And I Saved My Landlord’s Life

I paid 40% of the rent for April and will pay that same amount as long as the pandemic continues.

If you have a good small landlord consider paying them at least a little bit because they are in need of rent for their families.

I also told my landlord to always remember I didn’t have to pay, but I did pay 40%. I told them how about a little gift for me, like some Lancombe make up or some expensive champagne?  KEEP ME HAPPY OR ELSE!

Let’s work together and at least pay your landlord a little bit to keep them also surviving…but don’t pay them the full amount because you need to spend your money on your needs first! This is a Win-Win Relationship.

“N4” Eviction Notice Does NOT Mean You Have To Move Out

Tuesday, April 21st, 2020

Disclaimer: “This isn’t an attack on landlords. This is an attack on the system that got us here.”

Landlords Are Scheming To Intimidate Tenants And Pressure Us To Give Up Our Legal Rights!

May 1st is quickly approaching and renters are under even more pressure to make rent due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

A loophole in Ontario’s eviction ban means landlords can still threaten tenants with eviction notices, leading some renters to vacate their homes in the middle of this life threatening pandemic.

The Ontario government banned new eviction orders last month, with Premier Doug Ford promising “no one will be kicked out of their home or their rental apartments based on not being able to pay the rent.”

But the government later stated landlords can still serve renters an “eviction notice,” even though “eviction hearings and orders are on hold.”

So while landlords can’t evict you, and there the Landlord and Tenant Board is closed and landlords cannot even get a Hearing to “try” to evict you, they are still trying.

And many are using unethical dirty tricks to make you leave your home (illegally) in these trying times!

Property Management companies like Berkley Inc. and Westbury Rentals have sent out N4s.  

And small landlords who often act so pure and innocent (“we were tenants too“) are the worst offenders in trying to trick and intimidate tenants.

Tenants Need To Know:

-An eviction notice is NOT an eviction order.

-You do NOT have to leave your unit if you receive an N4 from your landlord.
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-ONLY the LTB has the power to evict you.
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Landlords Have No Power…They Want To Trick You To Pay

ictions Are Illegal. You Don’t Have To Pay Rent! They Are Trying To Trick .
Small landlords keep trying to trick tenants.
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In most cases, experts say, the evictions are illegal, since landlords are required to go through the courts to evict tenants, and most courts are not currently processing eviction orders.
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And the courts (LTB) are closed.  Landlords are trying to deceive you.
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An Eviction Notice Doesn’t Mean You Have To Move Out!
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In Ontario this “N4” is toothless and powerless.
DO NOT MOVE OUT.
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You can even use it against your landlord.
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But that is for another helpful post!

Join The Huge and Powerful Tenant Rally At The Ministry of Housing March 12th! – Tenants Dare Speak Truth To Power!

Sunday, March 8th, 2020

March 12 is the Date For Change!

I am not a member of this group but I sure do admire them. These are hard working class people who are willing to sacrifice their time and money to fight for social justice.  Because I admire them so much I want to make sure all Tenants come and fight against rules that harm good working Tenants and support parasitic landlords who prey on us.

Join ACORN members and allies from across Ontario to demand real solutions to the housing crisis.

Rents are rising out of control – we need rent control on ALL buildings and protections on the rent between tenancies, so landlords can’t evict tenants then jack up the rent.

WHEN: Thursday, March 12, 2020 at 1 PM – 3 PM

WHERE: Ministry of Housing (777 Bay Street) in Toronto

ACORN members from Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, and Peel will be coming together to demand action. RSVP by contacting your local ACORN office.

East York “Represents” and Ready For War

We Are Preparing All Over Ontario!

Etobicoke Ready To Fight For Tenant Rights

What Are The Demands?

-No more rent increases for existing tenants. Ever!

-No rent increase between tenants moving. End the tenant holocaust of huge rent increases when tenants move out!

-Landlords must be licensed!

-We need criminal and credit checks on landlords to be mandatory!

-Landlords must have at least an accredited bachelor degree. We need a minimum educational background (Bachelors Degree) to become a landlord!

-Landlords must pass a criminal record check.  Are you a crook, no landlord license for you jail bird!

-Landlords must provide a credit and criminal check and proof of ownership to all tenant applicants who request it.

-Working with the Human Rights Commission all ‘refused applications” will require a Hearing if the declined Tenant applicant demands it.

-All landlords must put $5000.00 into a government fund so any tenant judgments will be paid from this fund immediately upon a judgement!

Tenants Are No Longer Weak And Disorganized

We Are ready to fight for our Human Rights

We Were Weak But Now We Are Strong!

Fix Toronto Community Housing NOW!

No help for my Autistic Kid, No Help With Housing, I will Fight!

We Need A New Ministry of Tenant Security NOW!

This needs to be a new branch of government.  It will be called the Ministry of Tenant Security.

This new branch of the provincial government will oversee all issues brought forth by Tenants.

Landlords cheating Tenants and Tenant Vs. Landlord Tribunals

This will include Tenant only tribunals to sue landlords for things such as poor maintenance, illegal entrance, rude and insulting behavior, proud behavior, looking down on Tenants.

It will also create a new police force that will help Tenants protect our rights and jail bad landlords who break the rule such as entering our homes without proper notice (one year in jail for a first time offense).

Join The Tenant Rally For Winning!

The usual landlord groups do nothing but kiss the asses of the landlords. Acorn and their allies like us are holding people accountable and we will do it!

The System Is Broken – Time for RADICAL ACTION TO MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES TO HELP TENANTS SURVIVE!

COME MARCH 12TH  TO THE MINISTRY AND DEMAND JUSTICE!

 

Always Rent “Inclusive” Of Utilities (Means Your Landlord Pays For The Utilities You Use, Not You)

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020

With Rising Costs It’s Essential For Tenants To Make Sure Your Landlord Is Paying Your Bills, Not You!

Many tenants are dealing with harsh weather this winter.  Whether it’s rain, hale, or snow storms and freezing temperatures.

With the increased costs of heating your home it can take a huge bite out of your monthly budget.

While your landlord is soaking up the sun and enjoying the beach in Hawaii, Florida, Cuba or some other tropical paradise using your rent money, tenants are struggling to cover our rising costs!

Problems continue into the summer, where electrical costs for fans and air conditioners are rising fast.

Landlords can afford to get away from heatwaves by traveling to northern locations, while tenants have to sweat it out in our rental homes. And costs are going to rise dramatically according to CBC News!

Always Get Your Landlord To Pay Your Bills.

Many tenants are not aware that some landlords will rent out the property as “inclusive” of utilities. This means that you only pay the rent each month and the landlord pays for your heat, gas, electricity, etc.

Why Should You Make Your Landlord Pay Your Utility Bills?

There are two main reasons.

(1) It Gives You Stability With Your Expenses

Why should you demand this? Because energy costs are just going up, up, up. If you get an “inclusive” deal your expenses are stable because landlords can only increase the rent according to the government guideline.

(2) Once This Is The Lease The Landlord Can’t Change It

Landlords can’t demand you change the leases terms, so if you get an “inclusive” lease the landlord is powerless to change it.  So while his costs will go up, yours won’t (except for the small rent increase, which in 2020 is only 2.2% while energy costs might go up 10-20-30%!)

Offer Your Potential Landlord Higher Rent, But Make Sure It’s “Inclusive”

When you see this as we explained, it’s very important to make sure you find a rental where you are only responsible for paying the rent.

Many landlords are money-hungry monsters who view you not as a human being, but as a cash cow entering their slaughterhouse.

So use their greed against them!

Offer a bit more rent in exchange for an “inclusive” deal. You will end up the winner at the end, especially if you are going to stay in your rental home for a long time.

Getting An Inclusive Deal Can Lead You To Save Thousands of Dollars!

The media says many home-owners are struggling to pay their heating bills this winter. So think about how serious this if you are renting and on a budget. You need to make sure you get this deal to protect yourself and protect your financial future.

Let your wealthy landlord deal with rising energy costs (they are rich) instead of you (who is struggling to survive). Climate change is scary and your landlord needs to pay to prevent it.

Tips and Tricks To Get The Lease Deal You Need To Survive And Thrive!

Here are some tips if you are dealing with a landlord who wants YOU to pay (and face financial insecurity, and put all the risk on you!)

Some key phrases that greedy landlords who are used to bullying and exploiting tenants “like to hear.”

“I’m barely ever home so my utility costs will always be low.”

“It’s just me moving in, so one person can’t use much power.” (bring in other people after you get the key)

“I understand your concerns so will pay you more rent to make you safe. That’s fair for both sides”

“I am so busy at work, I don’t even cook at home. I order food.”

“I’m so busy with business travel I will barely even be here.”

“Because I want the place let’s raise your rent price by an extra $50/month so I can move in fast.” (Or offer $100 or more, it will still end up saving you money!)

Get The Lease Signed And Protect Yourself! You Win!!!

The landlord might be unhappy once you move in and the costs are higher than they expected.  But this is a business and landlords are getting rich off of your hard work and struggles.

If your landlord is unhappy then they should become better business people and not expect tenants to lay down and let them screw us without us fighting back!

Ontario Tenants Protect Yourselves By Making The Landlord Pay Your Bills!

By only paying “rent” you are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act and the Landlord and Tenant Board.

If you agree to pay for the power you use you are vulnerable and NOT PROTECTED!