Rental licensing bylaw unfair to some

Re: New rental licensing bylaw for pilot study in Ward 1, 2 up for council approval, by Taylor Campbell, April 22

We own a duplex in Ward 1.

Windsor Fire & Rescue Services mailed out a letter in 2019 saying all rental properties in Ontario required a mandatory Electrical Safety Authority inspection, along with a Fire Code Compliance inspection by law.

Every rental unit in Windsor was to be inspected and this task would take some time to complete. We completed the inspections.

The cost for the ESA inspection was $399 per unit. All deficiencies had to be corrected in order to rent out the unit. An Eleccheck Certificate was issued in December 2020 at an added cost of $100 per unit. This brought the total cost to $998.

WFRS also inspected and identified Ontario Fire Code deficiencies. All deficiencies were resolved and a certificate was issued in December 2020.

City council has now approved a plan which is a test pilot for all rental units in Wards 1 & 2. They propose that licensing rental properties in Ward 1 & 2 will have to pay a one-time fee of $466, followed by a subsequent yearly renewal fee of $275. Who will absorb this cost?

Why should someone who is already meeting all requirements and has the certifications be required to spend this money?

Council did make some exemptions. Units occupied by property owners or family members are to be exempt. Why are they not required to follow compliance rules?

Five units or more are also exempt. Why is five the magic number?

Did city council even think about exempting owners of rental units who have already spent thousands of dollars complying with all the Fire Code Compliance and Hydro Eleccheck?

Shame on our city council who voted this through.

In the article, Coun. Fred Francis said: “A few bad apples are ruining it for everyone.” He could not have said it any better.