London Acorn claims draft by-law to discourage unethical renovictions falls short

Last minute changes to a draft licensing by-law to discourage ‘renovictions have frustrated representatives of a tenants’ advocacy group.

Last minute changes to a draft licensing by-law to discourage ‘renovictions have frustrated representatives of a tenants’ advocacy group.

“It doesn’t go far enough,” says Jordan Smith, chair of London Acorn’s Carling-Stoneybrook Chapter.

Smith believes the new version of the draft by-law released on Wednesday will not protect vulnerable tenants facing N-13 eviction notices, “To be totally frank, [I’m] a little bit angry with this report. It's really hard to square the arguments that they're making against providing alternate rental accommodations.

The term ‘renoviction’ describes the unethical use of N-13 Notices by some landlords. Tenants are evicted from their units on the pretense of extensive renovations and repairs, but the landlord actually seeks to remove a low-income tenant so that the rent can be hiked.

However, staff do not recommend a measure in the City of Hamilton’s licensing by-law that requires landlords to offer alternate accommodations or a rent-top up to tenants while they are displaced.

The report explains that when a municipality requires something that may not necessarily be feasible, by-law administrators must consider granting exemptions from those requirements.