The Ottawa Planning and Housing Committee has voted to move forward with a proposed bylaw targeting "renovictions" in the city [1, 2].
The measure aims to prevent landlords from using renovations as a pretext to evict tenants and illegally raise rents. By requiring formal city permits for such evictions, the city intends to eliminate bad-faith removals from the rental market [1, 2].
Under the proposed rules, landlords would be required to obtain a city-issued renovation permit before they can evict tenants for the purpose of upgrading a property [1, 2]. This shift places the burden of proof on the property owner to demonstrate that the renovation is legitimate and necessary [1].
Councillor Ariel Troster said the move is a way to protect vulnerable renters from displacement [1]. The bylaw also includes provisions for penalties against landlords who engage in bad-faith evictions [1, 2].
However, the proposal has faced opposition from real-estate industry representatives. Tami Eades of the Ottawa Real Estate Board said she has concerns regarding the impact of these restrictions on property owners [1]. The tension between tenant protections and property rights remains a central point of contention as the bylaw moves toward a final decision [2].
While the committee has voted to advance the protections, the timing of the vote varied across reports. Some notices indicated a vote date of July 8, 2024, while other reports said the committee had already acted in early July 2024 [1, 2].
“Landlords would be required to obtain a city-issued renovation permit before they can evict tenants.”
This bylaw represents a shift in municipal oversight, moving the validation of renovation-based evictions from the landlord's discretion to a city-regulated permit process. If fully implemented, it could reduce the number of 'bad-faith' evictions but may also increase administrative hurdles for property owners seeking to modernize older housing stock.
