Renters told to vacate the premises by a landlord who intends to redevelop the property could get some support from the City of sa国际传媒.聽
A law passed earlier this year by the NDP government allows municipalities to create comprehensive tenant protection bylaws.聽
After studying various options, city staff are recommending council take a middle course between simply following the existing provincial rules and a more elaborate scheme that would require more advance notification to tenants, financial compensation, assistance in finding a new place to live, and having the right of first refusal to move back into the new units, possibly at a reduced rent.聽
The "moderate" proposal going to council at Mondaysa国际传媒 meeting would require landlords to submit a tenant relocation plan of their own devising that seeks to minimize the impact of the displacement.
There are no specific details, however, on what such a plan should include, which staff acknowledge could be seen as a drawback. 鈥淭he lack of clear, enforceable standards could result in inconsistent protection for tenants, as developers may interpret the guidelines differently,鈥 states a staff report to council.聽
But they also note more elaborate regulations aimed at helping dislocated tenants would just be factored into the cost of the new housing project, driving up rents for future tenants. 鈥淥f course, any added burden to development has some level of cost implications on the new product,鈥 the report states.聽
Given the uncertainties about how the proposed new rules would play out, staff recommend they be directed to present regular updates to council on how the process is unfolding. The first such update would come after the city receives five redevelopment applications for rental buildings with five or more units.聽
The proposed tenant protection provisions would only apply to buildings with five or more units that are slated for redevelopment. As well, they would only be in force when the citysa国际传媒 apartment vacancy rate is below four per cent, which it has been almost continuously between 1991 and currently.聽
The average monthly rent for an apartment in sa国际传媒 in 2022 was just under $1,400, the report states, compared to $850 in 2014, $750 in 2004, and $650 in 1991.
Council will be asked to endorse the proposed rules so staff can draft the necessary bylaw for consideration and approval at a later date. While thatsa国际传媒 being done, the report states, the city will consult with stakeholders such as the Urban Development Institute, a buildersa国际传媒 organization, to ensure a 鈥渃ollaborative approach鈥.聽
