Archive for the ‘tenants rights’ Category

Top 10 Landlord Answers That Are Illegal (And a warning you should not rent from them!)

Monday, February 1st, 2021

FINDING A RENTAL IS NOW EASY AND TENANTS CAN DEMAND OUR RIGHTS: HERE ARE 10 ANSWERS FROM LANDLORDS THAT SHOULD LEAD YOU TO WALK OUT!)

With vacancy rates so high in Toronto and across Ontario tenant applicants can be tough and demand landlords follow the law!

Times have changed and tenants are now in the drivers seat!

When the vacancy rates were so low just a year ago many innocent and vulnerable tenant victims were afraid to ask their potential landlords important questions or they might not never find a home.

Not Being Careful When Choosing A Landlord Can Lead To Problems Later On

While it seems at first something you don’t really need to do, not screening your potential landlord can lead to huge problems down the road.

And these huge problems will occur when you not only least expect them, but when you don’t need need extra stress in your life.

For example, the landlord problems often happen when you have exams, or have important work meetings, or have important relationships visiting you or moving in.

Rental Properties Are A Dime A Dozen And Landlords Need YOU (and your $$$ to cover their costs!)

Please rent my place! Don’t you know I have a mortgage to cover, property taxes, condo fees!

Due to Covid19 many rental properties are empty. This means unlike times prior to the pandemic landlords and their over mortgaged rental properties are a dime a dozen.

Landlords need to fill their rentals and are DESPERATE to get someone in to pay their mortgage for them.

They took the risk and over-leveraged…their whole investment strategy was to sit back and collect rent!

Don’t Listen To The USA Sites!

Many American sites will tell you landlords can ask for things that are illegal covered under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act.

For example, some American sites your landlord can say:

-We have our own screening policy

This is meaningless because Ontario landlords must follow the rules for screening tenants according the Ontario Human Rights Commission.

If they don’t follow these rules you can take them to the Human Rights Commission and get a huge penalty against them.

The rules in Ontario include:

Housing is a human right

International law says that people in Canada should be able to get good housing that they can afford. To help achieve this in Ontario, tenants and landlords (or housing providers) have rights and responsibilities under the Human Rights Code.

As a tenant, you have the right to equal treatment in housing without discrimination and harassment.

You cannot be refused an apartment, harassed by a housing provider or other tenants, or otherwise treated unfairly because of your:

  • race, colour or ethnic background
  • religious beliefs or practices
  • ancestry, including people of Aboriginal descent
  • place of origin
  • citizenship, including refugee status
  • sex (including pregnancy and gender identity)
  • family status
  • marital status, including people with a same-sex partner
  • disability
  • sexual orientation
  • age, including people who are 16 or 17 years old and no longer living with their parents
  • receipt of public assistance.

You are also protected if you face discrimination because you are a friend or relative of someone identified above.

-We have our own pet policy

In Ontario it is illegal to not allow a tenant to have pets. You can even lie to a corrupt, rule breaking landlord and say you don’t have pets, move in, and then bring in your pets and there is nothing your landlord can do!

-We have our own guest policy

In Ontario tenants can have guests and it’s none of the landlords damn business.

-We have our own lease renewal policy

This is meaningless because in Ontario a lease automatically goes to “month by month” at the end of a fixed term lease.  A landlord can’t kick you out when your lease ends.

-We have our own repairs policy

In Ontario this is meaningless because the landlord is responsible for all repairs.

-We have our own notice to leave policy

This is also all covered in the Residential Tenancies Act. A landlord must give at least 24 hours written notice to the tenant and served to the tenant in a legally acceptable way.

-We have our own policy for you to pay us huge fees for sublets

If you want to move it’s easy in Ontario and already legally covered. You can assign or sublet your apartment.

An even easier way is to just learn how Ontario tenants can legally break a fixed term lease.

-We charge a security deposit, it’s our policy

In Ontario any money other than “first and last” is ILLEGAL.  If the landlords demand it you can pay it, then move in, and take your landlord to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and get all the money back!

-What is your citizenship or refugee status, it’s our policy to know

This is illegal in Ontario.

-You need to inform me what is your source of income?

This is illegal in Ontario

Tenants Don’t Rent From Unlawful Landlords!

The rental industry is highly regulated in Ontario. Many of your concerns are already protected under LAW and there are severe penalties you can apply to your potential landlord if they break them.

How Can I File A Human Rights Complaint Against An Illegal Landlord?

Yes, and it’s easy.

And many expert tenants say it’s very easy for tenants to win at the OHRC. Go for it!

If you need human rights legal advice or help filing an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, contact the Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre at: 416-597-4900 or 1-866-625-5179 and speak with a Human Rights Advisor.

To file an application directly with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, visit their website and follow the instructions for How to file an application.

We (The Ontario Human Rights Commission) have many progressive human rights policies that may support your application before the Human Rights Tribunal. If you want the Tribunal to consider our policy position, you have to let them know

I can’t afford another month of an empty rental! My Realtor lied to me!

Do Not Rent From Desperate Landlords Who Break The Law!

Tenants now have power with vacancy rates so high. They are desperate to find someone to rent from them to pay their mortgages and other expenses.

Demand landlords follow the law and find good landlords who know and follow the law.

Reward only lawful landlords with your rent money they are desperate to get from you to survive!

Bill 184 – The “Tenant Slaughter And Un-Protection Act”

Tuesday, July 21st, 2020

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

“Let’s make a payment plan. Let’s avoid the LTB, work together (tenant signs)….GOT YOU… Hahaha I can now evict you fast, you have no legal rights now! SUCKER! The Sheriff is coming now to kick you out!”

Tenants need to be aware of the huge challenges we are soon going to face!

While the Premier has acted all kind and cuddly (like that fat drunk uncle we all see during the holidays who laughs as he passes gas and then beats your aunt to bloody pulp when they get home) it’s only an act.

The reality is those of us who rightfully didn’t pay rent (or full rent) are being prepared for the slaughterhouse (legally)!

It’s called Bill 184 and you can bet it will soon be the law and the slaughter of tenants will begin.

The government will not forgive tenants not paying and instead are going to demand tenants agree to “payment plans” that bypass the legal process of going to the Landlord and Tenant Board for a legal Hearing (where tenants have rights and free legal help)

The NDP came up with a plan to help tenants cover rent by using government funds to help during the horrible pandemic.

Even some landlord groups such as the Ontario Landlords Association proposed this as a way for tenants and their landlords to avoid conflict and avoid evictions.

Lots of other industries have received government support, so why not residential tenants and their landlords?

No, that would have been too easy and too nice. Why be nice when they want a slaughter and I think they enjoy seeing us suffer!

Suze Morrison is an NDP MPP who wants to protect tenants. Morrison is very aware of the reality and the coming avalanche of mass evictions based on landlords legally being able to trick tenants into forfeiting our legal rights.

Thousands of tenants in Ontario are lying awake at night, worrying about losing the roof over their head when the province’s weak pause on the enforcement of evictions ends.

They wouldn’t be this position if Doug Ford had answered the NDP’s call to provide a rent subsidy to tenants who have lost income or their job due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but here we are.

As if this wasn’t bad enough, the Ford government has found a way to make things even worse.

Now, in the middle of the pandemic, the Conservatives are attempting to quietly ram through legislation that will make it easier for landlords to evict tenants.

Don’t be fooled by the name of the legislation. Bill 184, the Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act, is bad for tenants.

Tenants already faced an uphill battle at the Landlord and Tenant Board, squaring off against often deep-pocketed landlords and their high-priced lawyers. If passed, Ford’s eviction bill will leave tenants with fewer defences to avail themselves of and fewer opportunities to plead their case.

Consider the case of a landlord who refuses to fix a malfunctioning radiator in a tenant’s unit. If the tenant withholds their rent, the landlord can haul them in front of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Under Bill 184, the tenant may be prevented from pointing out other issues, like the landlord’s failure to maintain the unit in a good state of repair, at the hearing on non-payment of rent.

Bill 184 also takes away a tenant’s right to return to the Landlord and Tenant Board if they miss a payment after coming up with a repayment plan to catch up on back rent. This is especially concerning in the context of the pandemic.

Thousands of tenants in Ontario will be trying to catch up on back rent after losing their income or job. What if they feel pressured to accept a repayment plan and fall behind on payments despite their best efforts? What if their financial circumstances change because there’s a second wave of COVID-19?

Under Bill 184, there’s no opportunity to revisit the repayment plan at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Tenants could find a sheriff knocking on their door, ready to enforce their eviction, the second they miss a payment.

The Ford government can claim that its eviction bill is about “protecting tenants” all it wants. But even Steve Clark, the minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, admits that the legislation is about moving things along at the Landlord and Tenant Board when the government switches the lights back on.

In this very paper, he wrote: “We know that when regular hearings resume at the LTB, there will be a backlog of cases requiring resolution. That’s why this legislation is important today — in light of COVID-19.”

Yes, there will be a backlog of cases. The enforcement of evictions may be on hold for now, but that hasn’t stopped landlords from threatening tenants with eviction — even for partial rent payments.

And what is the Ford government doing with thousands of evictions on the horizon in Ontario? Instead of helping tenants keep up with rent, and in turn ensuring landlords get paid, the government is greasing the gears of the Landlord and Tenant Board to speed up evictions.

Tenants deserve better than a government that claims it’s protecting them when it’s really making them more vulnerable to losing the roof over their heads.

It’s time for the Ford government to scrap its plan to make evictions easier and step up with rent relief to help see tenants through the economic pain of COVID-19.

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.

Illegal Questions On Applications? File a Human Rights Complaint

Tuesday, October 29th, 2019

Are You On Welfare Or Disability?? Do You Have Kids? Do You Have A Disability? Are You A Canadian Citizen? Are You An Alcoholic Or Do Drugs? What Is Your Religion?

All Illegal Under the Ontario Human Rights Code & You Can File A Complaint

https://i.cbc.ca/1.5252540.1566248916!/fileImage/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/original_780/rental-application.jpg

Lots Of Reasons Any Tenant Getting This Application Should File A Human Rights Complaint (And Win A Large Judgement)

Many tenants are unaware of our rights when it comes to finding an apartment.

And why shouldn’t we be? After all finding a new place to call home can be one of the most stressful things anyone can ever do.

Low Vacancy Rates Give Landlords All the Power

Because of the rise of AirBnb lots of rentals are off the market for long term great tenants who want to find a place to put down roots, grow our careers, and raise our families.

With the pro-landlord governments not enforcing the laws against these type of short term rentals, things have never been worse for tenants.

Landlords Are Getting Away With Illegal Human Rights Abuses All Over Ontario!

A recent story by CBC news shined a light on what landlords in Waterloo are getting away with.

You could say they are getting away with murder because not being able to find a home leads to suicides and many physical and mental problems for people just trying to survive.

What Questions Are Illegal?

Here are some of the questions that need to lead to a Human Rights Complaint (and a punishment of the illegal landlord)

-Are You On Welfare or Disability?

-Do You Have Kids?

-Do You Have A Disability?

-Are You A Canadian Citizen?

-Are You An Alcoholic?

-Do You Do Drugs?

-What Is Your Religion?

And even more!  See what the these bad landlords can and cannot do HERE.

What Can I Do If I Face These Illegal Landlord Questions?

You can file a Human Rights Complaint and based on my research as long as you file you will win.

You see, if they agree to take your case it means you will win and beat the landlord.  And the landlord will be required to pay you money (and worse).

Contacts To Help You Get The Justice You Deserve In a Law-Abiding Nation Like Canada

If you need human rights legal advice or help filing an application with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, contact the Ontario Human Rights Legal Support Centre at: 416-597-4900 or 1-866-625-5179 and speak with a Human Rights Advisor.

To file an application directly with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, visit their website and follow the instructions for How to file an application.

In This Era of Low Vacancy Rates And Gov’t Cuts Tenants Must Take Action!

Canada is a country known for following the rule of law. Yet many people (especially newcomers to Canada) are unaware that many landlords (and employers) want to trick and intimidate people into accepting a lawless “Mad Max” type of state.

1. Landlords Refusing Tenants On Welfare Is Common…and Illegal!

I hear this all the time. They base your application on source of income, which is ILLEGAL. File a complaint if you are on Ontario Works or ODSP.

File a Human Rights complaint.

2. Landlords Refusing Tenants Due To Lack of Citizenship Is Common…and Illegal!

Oh you are new here so you are not a real human being?

File a Human Rights complaint.

In Canada You Have Rights! But You Need To Fight For Them!

It’s up to you to make sure you use the fair system to demand your rights and punish these local Canadians who want to scare you, trick you, intimidate you, and abuse you and your family.

Make Sure Canadian Laws Are Followed By Law-Breakers: File A Human Rights Complaint!

You have rights but only if you take action.

Many newcomers to Canada are not aware that the laws are not “automatically” happening…you need to speak up and be aggressive to Defend Your Rights.

Speak up, be aggressive and make sure your legal rights are protected and you get the money you deserve from illegal criminal landlords.

Insider Info: I spoke with a lawyer who is often at the Human Rights Commission Tribunal  (OHRC)

She explained if your complaint is accepted (and you can demand it be accepted by NOT BACKING DOWN) tenants will often not only win, but win a large monetary judgement against the landlord who has to try to defend themselves.

While the Landlord and Tenant Board is understaffed and often can’t attract the best people due to low salaries and bureaucracy, the OHRC is run by educated professionals who know how important their job is.

Fellow Tenants You Have Nothing To Fear And Nothing To Lose AND EVERYTHING TO GAIN FIGHTING FOR YOUR RIGHTS!

FILE, FILE, FILE

Take a look at some cases where Tenants upheld their rights, took the landlord to the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal and won HERE.

Tenant: I Called The By-Law Department Directly And They Ordered My Landlord To Fix Things…Or Get A Huge Fine!

Thursday, August 1st, 2019

As part of our “Let’s Improve the Ontario Rental Industry” we have invited landlords and tenants to share their opinions on how we can make these improvements. These opinions are from individual contributors and are not the opinions of the Ontario Landlords Association. We believe by fostering communication between landlords and tenants we can improve the Ontario rental industry

 

You Can Make Sure You Get Fast Repairs By Just Calling Your Local By-Laws Department Directly And Reporting Your Landlord

Sorry I’m not a professional writer or anything but people here encouraged me to share my story to help other tenants. There have been lots of great tenant posts that have helped others like How Ontario Tenants Can Easily Break a Lease, so I’ll try.

Second, this has nothing to do with all the good landlords out there who care about their tenants and make sure their rentals are safe.  This is just about the bad landlords.

I’m a single mum renting a place. As a single mum having a clean and safe property is a priority for me. So when I saw black mold in the bathroom I needed to act to protect my kids!

I called the landlord on Saturday night and texted 5 times and got no reply!

Even by Tuesday no reply, that’s 4 days of potentially poisoning my child!

I went to the Ontario tenants forum and asked others what to do and they said call the by-laws department directly and there is no need to even talk to your landlord because every city and town has laws for maintaining safe houses and tenants can call by-laws directly.

Landlords must follow the law!

By-Law Officer Was Professional And On My Side!

The by-laws officer came the next day and I asked her to do a huge, complete inspection of the rental house to protect me and my kids and she agreed.  She saw the black mold.

But it didn’t end there, as the Officer inspected the entire rental property! 

I was so happy to have help and protection for me and my family! She also found a lot of other issues (wiring, insulation) and even found the shingles were not up to code!

The by-laws officer said she would send a letter to the landlord demanding things get fixed or the landlord would be fined thousands of dollars. The landlord was also given a firm date to do the repairs, so they couldn’t “play games.”

A week later the landlord contacted me and gave me a schedule for lots of contractors to come to fix the mold and all the other issues.

I said “NO! You need to follow MY SCHEDULE or I will call the By-Law Officer again!” 

My landlord agreed fast, because he was worried that I was a smart tenant who knows my rights and he can’t treat me like crap or I will call the by-laws department again!

Tenants if you have any problems don’t even waste your time to call your landlord.  They are cheap and stingy and don’t care about you and your children at all!

Don’t waste time…call the by-laws department directly and they will come, you let them in, and you show them all the potential problems.

Then, the fight is between by-laws and your landlord, not you and your landlord.

And landlords get scared when the government is involved and will respect you and fear you for know how to protect your rights! They also know if they get fined the government will collect it.

Tenants Can Call By-Laws Directly And They Will Force Your Landlord To Make Repairs Or Get Charged Thousands of Dollars

Good landlords who take care of their rental properties don’t need to worry. But if you have a bad landlord you can call by-laws directly and make your landlord scared and obey your every command!

How Can You Contact Your Local By-Laws Department? 

Just call your city or town. And ask the receptionist to put you through to “the by-law department”.  It’s easy and they are excellent!

Ontario Tenants – Bad Landlords Are Out There But You Can Protect Yourself!