Mississauga Introduces New Bylaw to Combat Renovictions

Effective September 1st, Mississauga's Rental Repairs and Renovations Licensing bylaw introduces new regulations for landlords seeking to evict tenants for renovations. Under this bylaw, landlords must apply for a municipal license, costing up to $600, within seven days of issuing an N13 notice, which signifies the end of a tenancy due to extensive repairs or renovations. This license application process also requires landlords to offer tenants additional compensation in line with Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act.

This initiative follows a trend seen in other Southern Ontario municipalities, including Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Kitchener, which have implemented similar measures to address renovictions. A report from ACORN Canada indicated that between 2017 and 2023, Mississauga recorded 68 N13 notices, placing it among the top Ontario cities for such notices.

The new bylaw empowers Mississauga bylaw enforcement agents to verify compliance with licensing requirements but does not grant them the authority to decide whether a tenant must vacate. Landlords are also obligated to maintain communication with tenants throughout the renovation period.

While the bylaw aims to protect tenants, some small property owners express concern. They argue that the added administrative burden and costs may discourage local investment in rental properties, particularly given the limitations on annual rent increases. Statistics Canada data from 2022 suggests that a significant portion of rental properties are owned by small landlords.

Tenant advocacy groups, such as the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations, report a noticeable decrease in eviction cases since 2021, attributing this trend, in part, to similar bylaws enacted in cities like Toronto. These organizations believe such regulations create a more difficult, and thus less appealing, path for landlords attempting to remove tenants under the guise of renovations.