Property owners protest Windsor’s rental licencing pilot project
It was a quiet yet passionate protest in front of city hall Tuesday as about 100 people showed up to share their objection to the city’s Rental Licensing Bylaw.
“A criminal records check. I've been a landlord for 30 years in this city. I’m getting a criminal record check?” property owner Diane Chauvin questioned.
Under the city’s new bylaw, a criminal records check is necessary for landlords in wards one and two in order to obtain a Residential Rental License. The fee, plus inspections and work needed could cost over $1,000.
“We are against this by-law because the city has lots of other tools already they have,” said realtor Johnny Zhuang.
And with spiking housing costs, landlords say it is just one more fee that will be passed on to tenants.
Property owner Ankit Belabiya feels picked on.
“Why not to everyone,” Belabiya said. “Why not to the whole city if it's actually a safety concern?”
Realtor Diane Chauvin shares the same disdain.
“I think it is discriminatory for everybody in wards one and two. Including the tenants,” she said.
However, Ward 1 city councilor Fred Francis doesn’t agree.
“It’s not discriminatory because the city was afforded the opportunity to do a pilot project for a number of years. Therefor it’s not discriminatory,” he said. “If it was just Wards 1 and 2 in perpetuity, forever, than yes it would be discriminatory.”
Anyone who owns properties with between one and four residential units in Wards 1 and 2 must apply for a license by May 31.
Landlords like Chauvin, say there has to be a better way.
“If you have a problem, a tenant calls in ‘I have a problem,’ landlord doesn't do anything then address that problem. Don't blanket us all with the same brush,” Chauvin said.
Belabiya feels there are measures in place to keep tenants safe.
“If they are really concerned about the safety they have everything,” Belabiya said. “They have a building department, they have a fire department. Go inspect the properties. Why slapping everything on the landlord?”
Francis says safety in rental units has been a concern for the past eight years he’s been on council.
“We’ve hired more by-law officers,” he said. “We’ve changed licensing. We’ve changed planning. We’ve changed different things that we can do to ensure that renters are not being taken advantage of, that rental properties are safe, orderly. We’ve done all that. This is the last measure.”
The licensing fee is $466 in the first year with a $275 renewal the next year.
“The licensing regime that we're implementing and the rules we're putting forward are taken from other municipalities as best practices.” Francis said. “That's what other municipalities are doing. We're essentially copying to see if it works here.”
Zhuang tells CTV News close to 2,000 people have signed a petition against the bylaw.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.