Ottawa Real Estate Investors Organization

In today's Citizen (May 4, 2006) there is a story on the Ontario
government's new landlord/tenant bill.  Unfortunately, I don't have the
full text but here are a few points I remember.

Good:  Rents for vacant units will not be controlled.  When one tenant
leaves and a new tenant comes in, you can charge whatever you and the
new tenant agree to.  Rent increases for rented units will be linked to
the Consumer Price Index, which should allow for slightly larger rent
increases.

Bad:  It looks like evictions will always require a hearing now.
Previously, if a tenant did not respond to an eviction request in 5
days, the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal (ORHT) could issue a default
eviction order.  No more, unfortunately.

Kevin Meldrum
OREIO Treasurer