News: Rental License Pilot Program Coming to Windsor

In an effort to create better rental living environments, the City of Windsor has approved a 2-year pilot program requiring landlords in Wards 1 and 2 to apply for a residential rental license in order to rent their property out. The program is meant to complement the existing system, in which a renter can call 3-1-1 and lodge a formal complaint about their property or landlord to the city. However many renters do not in fear of retaliation.

The new pilot project will call for regular inspections of all these properties by bylaw enforcement officers, who will inspect rental properties for building and fire code violations. The hope is to crack-down on what some city councillors call “deplorable” conditions. The pilot program will be in effect in the wards that St. Clair College and the University of Windsor fall in, and is aimed at the student housing conditions. The motion was passed 10-1 with the only objector indicating the program should be a city-wide initiative, not just a focus on student housing areas. Ward 2 councillor Fabio Costante said this about the pilot program, “I want this to be the council that moves forward and fights for better standards for tenants in our community. I think this is a really good compromise, I think it’s sensible, and I think ultimately, it’s surgical in nature. It addresses the root cause that the residential rental license is intended to address.”

Here at Jump Realty, all of our agents can help you navigate the market and understand your rights as a renter and what your standards are as a landlord. They’ll give you honest advice on what course of action is best for you in their professional opinion and will always put taking care of your best interests first! With offices in Windsor, Tecumseh, Kingsville, and Chatham, no matter where you are a Jump agent is ready to help. Please contact us for any housing needs and let us give you a better real estate experience!

With credit: Garton, R. (2021, March 09). Windsor to crack down on 'deplorable living conditions' with residential rental licensing bylaw pilot. Retrieved March 09, 2021, from https://windsor.ctvnews.ca/windsor-to-crack-down-on-deplorable-living-conditions-with-residential-rental-licensing-bylaw-pilot-1.5339459