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EMERGENCY DEPUTATION BY CHRIS FRANCO CONCERNING MOTION 21-G-238, RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LICENSING (ABSENTEE LANDLORD) PILOT PROJECT AND DRAFT BY-LAW (WARD 1)
Chris Franco discussed his concerns associated with the proposed three-year pilot for a Residential Rental Licensing (Absentee Landlord) Program within Georgian College area. He commented on the costs to obtain applicable certificate/permits for a residential rental licensing program significantly impacting landlords, the pilot specifically to one area and not city wide, and the fees not achieving total cost recovery and the general tax base subsidizing the remaining cost of the program.
Mr. Franco asked if the City had obtained a legal opinion associated to the Residential Rental Licensing Pilot Program and the Ontario Human Rights Code as the pilot is area specific, and that past by-laws had to be amended to remove these types of provisions. He also questioned the definition of an absentee landlord in the draft by-law.
Mr. Franco provided his opinion that the Licensing Pilot Program only for the Georgian College area would not fix the current issues, and that the City should hire more staff and take a targeted approach to enforcement by looking at all properties and not just absentee landlords. He suggested that if the decision is to proceed with the Licensing Pilot Program, the City may wish to consider a one-year pilot program with an option of a second year given the upcoming Municipal Election.