The municipality of Chatham-Kent is developing a by-law, regulating renovation-related evictions.
Chatham-Kent council unanimously approved a motion from councillor Marjorie Crew at their meeting Monday night to have staff develop a proposed licensing by-law to regulate the use of N13 notices to end a tenancy for renovations.
In Ontario, landlords may issue N13 notices when a unit “must be vacant for extensive renovations, demolition, or conversion.”
The motion was in response to growing concerns that N13 notices are being issued inappropriately, contributing to the loss of affordable rental units.
“We are not trying to change the law, we’re just trying to add on some protections for the tenants that may be impacted by the loss of their residence,” Crew told CKXS News.
In a municipal news release, Mayor Darrin Canniff said the decision reflects council’s broader commitment to housing stability and affordability.
“Access to safe, stable housing is fundamental to a strong and sustainable community,” said Mayor Canniff.
“Council’s direction to staff allows us to carefully examine how other municipalities have addressed renovictions, consult with stakeholders, and determine what approach makes sense for Chatham-Kent.”
Municipal staff will prepare a report and draft a proposed “N13 licensing by-law” to be considered at a summer council meeting.
If the by-law is approved, landlords would be required to obtain municipal approval before undertaking renovations that require a rental unit to be vacant.
“It’s just an added layer to the N13 process,” said Crew in an interview with CKXS.
“So that we know when someone tries to evict people because of renovations it’s not something being done in bad faith to just increase rent…When you’re saying you need to evict everyone from 40 units because you’re doing some renovations to the kitchen and floors, I don’t think that is something that is probably being done in good faith.”
Tenancy groups, landlord representatives, housing experts and municipalities with similar by-laws already implemented will be consulted. Residents can express their opinions through the municipality’s Let’s Talk engagement platform.