New rules aimed at better protecting renters in Mississauga will be in place in two weeks.

The City of Mississauga’s Rental Repairs and Renovations Licensing Bylaw, to take effect Sept. 1, will prevent tenants from being unjustly evicted by landlords who say they’re planning major repairs to the property — a practice known as renovictions.

Adopted by city council in April, the new bylaw “increases protections for tenants who face eviction when their landlord requires them to move out for extensive renovations or repairs,” city officials said earlier.

The city noted on Monday the bylaw, which works in tandem with the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act to better protect renters from unlawful renovictions, was developed with input from tenants, landlords and community groups across Mississauga.

“These changes will help make the eviction process clearer and fairer, while reducing housing instability and helping protect the city’s supply of affordable rental housing,” officials said. 

Renovictions have become more common

Renovictions have become more common in recent years, prompting Mississauga municipal politicians to take action in defence of city renters.

“When landlords do not follow the legal process to evict their tenants for such renovations or repairs, this can increase housing insecurity and can lead to a loss of affordable housing,” Mississauga officials said earlier, adding the new bylaw serves as”another important tool the city can use to ensure affordable rental housing remains available in Mississauga.”

Peel ACORN, which describes itself as an independent social and economic justice group that helps renters across Mississauga and Brampton push rental management groups to provide acceptable and appropriate living conditions, called the city’s new bylaw “historic,” saying in April that it marked “a massive victory for tenant power.”

City’s new bylaw among the strongest

In addition, Mississauga’s bylaw is now one of the strongest sets of such protections in Ontario, the group noted in an earlier news release, adding “this victory is a direct result of relentless organizing by Peel ACORN and follows a growing wave of municipal wins led by ACORN chapters across the province.”

The renters’ group says renovictions, “evictions carried out under the guise of renovations to bypass rent control,” have plagued Ontario tenants in recent years.

Under Mississauga’s new bylaw, the city says landlords will be required to obtain a licence from the city before making extensive renovations or repairs that require the tenant to move out.

An unlawful renoviction, according to the city, can happen when a landlord:

Falsely claims they need to complete extensive renovations or repairs to force their tenants to move out and then raise the rent.
Fails to follow the province’s N13 process under the ORTA. The N13 process outlines the legal steps landlords must take when undertaking extensive renovations or repairs that will displace their tenants.

Under the N13 process, Mississauga landlords must get a building permit from the city before undertaking repairs or renovations that require vacant possession of a rental unit, the city said.

“Landlords must also compensate displaced tenants by either paying one or three months rent, depending on the size of the building, or by offering suitable alternative rental accommodation,” city officials added.

As of Sept. 1, landlords who fail to comply with the new bylaw can be fined $500 to $1,000. More serious offences can result in a fine up to $100,000 upon conviction, the city noted.

Officials said residents who suspect their landlord is not following the bylaw can report it to the city by calling 311.

Mayor says new bylaw seeks fair balance

Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish said earlier the new bylaw seeks to achieve a fair balance.

“We aim to support landlords who are making excessive improvements to their properties, while protecting tenants from being illegally evicted,” she said in an April news release from the city. “We intend to improve communication between landlords and tenants and ensure that landlords and tenants are equipped with the information, supports and resources they need.”

City solicitor Graham Walsh noted earlier this year the city designed the “made in Mississauga” bylaw to work alongside the province’s N13 process.


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