By Katarzyna Pipin
A decision by Ottawa city council not to pressure the province for stricter rent controls has disappointed tenants but delighted landlords.
“There was a lot of tenant interest in this . . . they were hoping to have someone listen to their needs,” said Coun. Alex Cullen, chair of the health and social services committee. “They’re disappointed.”
Council voted not to petition the provincial government for a two-year rent freeze, a motion approved earlier by Cullen’s committee.
According to Cullen, the city has seen rents rise 19.7-per-cent since the Tenant Protection Act, which allows for yearly rent increases within specific guidelines, was enacted in 1998.
Councillors agree there is a shortage of affordable rental housing in Ottawa. In a city where more than 40 per cent of the population rent, the current vacancy rate is 1.9 per cent.
Although many were hoping for council’s support in petitioning the province, some say last week’s meeting also had a positive outcome.
“At least we got the discussion going,” says Bob MacDonald, program co-ordinator for Housing Help, an Ottawa-based tenants’ rights group. He says he’s not surprised by the decision, but he was hoping for a compromise.
“I was hoping something would have gone through, but I think there’s now a lot of public awareness of how difficult it is to be a tenant when rent is going up.”
MacDonald says he is happy with council’s decision to examine Toronto as a model, because he says it has greater tenant representation through its Rental Housing Advisory Committee. Macdonald says Toronto renters have more access to resources and information as to their rights, evictions and rent increases.
He says Toronto could set a good example for the capital, where “we’re so lacking in resources” and where there’s “no one to advise tenants.”
But John Dickie, chair of the Eastern Ontario Landlord Organization, says landlords are relieved that council did not support the motion. He says it ensures that they are not being made to “bear the whole burden of those in need of affordable housing.”
“It’s a great day for taxpayers, landlords and even tenants,” he says, adding that a rent freeze would end up hurting tenants as it would interfere with the supply of housing.
Dickie says it is the city’s responsibility to improve shelter allowances and affordability.
Council agreed affordable rental housing continues to be an issue and it will examine ways to help tenants with the problems they are facing.
“This is just one stage in the campaign,” says Cullen. “The problem is not going away.”