As cases rise, Ontario is extending the province-wide lockdown and increasing the restrictions alongside the latest stay-at-home order. Besides affecting daily activities, these recent restrictions will also affect landlords. We at AntsLabor, dive into some of these restrictions to give you a better understanding.
Why The Pandemic Rental Law Matters
The purpose of the pandemic rental law is to ensure tenants who may be affected by stay-at-home orders or restrictions are protected from unscrupulous landlords. Pre-COVID, Ontario was in the process of changing or clarifying many of its rental laws about landlord activities, ensuring the process of renting is fair to both landlords and tenants. This philosophy has also guided the pandemic rental law.
It’s also important to note that while no official pandemic rental law exists, changes have been made and implemented that affect rental regulations. Many of these regulatory changes will remain in effect until after the stay-at-home order, or in some instances, once the effects of the pandemic subside.
Landlords should understand these changes to ensure they remain on the right side of the law and avoid any repercussions.
Evicting Tenants
While the stay-at-home order is still in effect, Ontario evictions have been paused temporarily. Any ongoing evictions in the province will be postponed until after the stay-at-home order.
Because of these restrictions, the Ontario government encourages landlords to work with their tenants to create solutions. These solutions can include deferring rent or making other payment arrangements. If, however, the eviction is urgent, the Landlord and Tenant Board may request the Sheriff to expedite the eviction.
Rent Amount
Another change to pandemic rental laws is the inability to increase rents. A province-wide rent freeze means that rents will remain the same as they were for 2020 in 2021 for the majority of tenants. However, this rental freeze will only remain in place until December 31, 2021, and landlords who've got permission from the Landlord and Tenant Board to increase rent for 2021 before October 1, 2020, can do so in 2021. For any clarification on Ontario rental freezes, read this quick guide.
The Rental Unit
While entering the rental unit isn’t forbidden during the stay-at-home order, landlords should be mindful of provincial restrictions and maintain proper social distancing. Therefore, the Government of Ontario is encouraging landlords to only enter the premises when necessary and work alongside tenants to ensure this isn’t a frequent occurrence. Nevertheless, if the rental unit is on the market, landlords should – wherever possible – find alternative methods to show the unit without having to attend or host in-person viewings.
Where To Find Help As A Landlord
However, understanding that many of these changes could also affect landlords, the Government of Ontario has also made resources available for landlords who may find themselves in an unexpected predicament. If you need any assistance, consider contacting your municipality to defer property tax or research government programs designed to assist.
To manage your rental properties during these unprecedented times, you should also consider using the AntsLaborsoftware to automate your tasks and improve your admin efficiencies.
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