Landlords protesting inability to evict tenants during COVID-19 pandemic

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Published June 24, 2020 at 11:26 pm

Landlords protesting inability to evict tenants during COVID-19 pandemic

Several landlords are planning a protest regarding their inability to evict problem tenants.

Several landlords are planning a protest regarding their inability to evict problem tenants.

A group of small-ownership residential landlords in Ontario (SOLO)—one of several independent landlord groups from across the province—is planning a protest for Friday (June 26) in front of Queen’s Park.

“The majority of SOLO members own fewer than 10 properties, many just one or two, but play an important part of the housing crisis throughout the province,” member Donna Gareau said in a news release.

“These small-business owners have suffered greatly since the Emergency Order was declared by Premier Doug Ford in March, as the order halted evictions with the exception of those that are illegal or have safety issues,” she continued.

Some landlords claim that tenants have used the pandemic as an excuse to withhold rent, and/or damage their rental properties due to the fact evictions have been halted since March.

They also claim that they’ve been forced to support tenants using their personal finances.

SOLO pointed out that commercial landlords have received financial aid from the Province, while residential landlords have been forced to financially support their tenants using their own money.

While many financial institutions have agreed to defer mortgage payments, not all have done so. Even if mortgage payments are deferred, the increased debt will become a burden for the homeowner, not the tenant, according to the group.

SOLO also claims that the Province’s decision to suddenly halt evictions is a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

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