Residential Tenancies Act: Briefing Book - Michael Walker
Residential Tenancies Act: Briefing Book - Michael Walker
Residential Tenancies Act: Briefing Book - Michael Walker
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<strong>Residential</strong> <strong>Tenancies</strong> <strong>Act</strong>, 2007<br />
B R I E F I N G B O O K<br />
Frequently Asked Questions<br />
services are available in 150 languages through the AT&T telephone<br />
interpreting service. The Tenant Hotline is run by the Federation of Metro<br />
Tenants’ Associations (the FMTA). It can be reached at 416-921-9494.<br />
More information is also available at: www.torontotenants.org/hotline.htm<br />
� The Tenant Defence Fund - provides Tenant Support Grants and outreach<br />
and organizing assistance to groups of tenants fighting high rent increases<br />
or the loss of their rental housing. The program is funded and administered<br />
by the City of Toronto. The FMTA Outreach Team provides assistance for<br />
tenant organizing and grant applications. The Outreach Team can be<br />
reached at 416-413-9442. More information is also available at:<br />
www.torontotenants.org/outreach&organizing.htm<br />
FOR LANDLORDS:<br />
Q: As a landlord, what are the key components of this new legislation that I<br />
should be most familiar with?<br />
A: The RTA has made some changes in the areas of rent increases and eviction<br />
applications to the TPA that landlords should be aware of. For example:<br />
� The rent increase guideline is now based on the Ontario Consumer Price<br />
Index (CPI) rather than the building operating costs.<br />
� If you have got an above-guideline rent increase (AGI) for a capital<br />
expenditure, you must reduce the rent after the expenditure has been paid<br />
off; a similar rule applies to AGI based on utility cost increases.<br />
� Tenants are no longer required to file a written dispute to get a hearing on<br />
eviction applications, instead, all eviction applications will automatically<br />
move to a hearing.<br />
� The RTA permits a shorter eviction process under certain circumstances.<br />
For more detailed information, please contact the Landlord and Tenant Board at<br />
416-645-8080 or www.ltb.gov.on.ca, or the Landlord’s Self-Help Centre at<br />
www.landlordselfhelp.com.<br />
Q: I currently have a disorderly and disruptive tenant. What steps do I need to<br />
take to evict?<br />
A: Tenants have security of tenure and you may only evict a tenant for reasons<br />
permitted by the RTA. Reasons for an eviction could include:<br />
� not paying rent in full or persistently paying rent late<br />
� causing damage to the rental property<br />
� illegal activity<br />
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