‘An epidemic in our city’: Licence requirement suggested to curb renovictions in London

London city staff are hoping a $400 licence for renovations requiring tenant eviction helps curb bad-faith actors, or what's known as 'renoviction.'

City staff in London, Ont., have tabled some bylaw tweaks that they hope can deter landlords seeking to evict under “bad faith” pretenses – also known as “renovictions.”

The main focus of the recommendation is the introduction of a $400 licence requirement in order to complete renovations requiring an eviction. Landlords would also need to get a report from a qualified professional basically confirming that any planned renovations are required.

At a meeting of the community and protective services committee on Monday, members approved the recommendations, which will move on to council for final approval. At this point, staff believe bylaw changes could be ready for the beginning of 2025.

Committee chair Coun. David Ferreira spoke harshly about the impact of renovictions on the community, calling it an “epidemic in our city” that has resulted in a “systematic drive to increase our rents.”

“People are being systematically forced to leave their homes, families are getting kicked out, then from their neighbourhoods and then from their communities, and sometimes the city itself,” he said.

“It’s strained relationships, pulled kids out of school, it’s causing anxiety for many individuals at this very moment. The fear of being renovicted is a real fear that people are thinking about and they’re stressing about.”

Jordan Smith, chair of the Carling-Stoneybrook chapter of London ACORN, says the tenant advocacy group finds “a lot in here to like about this bill” but said there is one “glaring omission.”

“And that’s the accommodation factor.… Landlords who are going to displace tenants through legitimate rent eviction, (should be) required to accommodate tenants, to set them up in equivalent accommodations, and if necessary, to provide a rental top-up.”