A Chatham-Kent councillor is hoping to spur the provincial government to take action to prevent the loss of multi-bedroom rental units.
Councillor Melissa Harrigan brought forward a notice of motion during Monday’s council meeting in response to landlords converting multi-bedroom rental units into one-bedroom units or choosing to build more one-bedroom units instead. Harrigan is asking council to direct administration to advocate to the province for a province-wide strategy to reduce unnecessary renovations that displace tenants and encourage the construction of more family-friendly rental units.
Harrigan told council that these unnecessary renovations and conversions are putting further strain on the already limited supply of family-sized rental housing.
Council approved the Rental Renovation Licence By-law in June in response to renovictions, and it is scheduled to come into effect in October. The by-law will require landlords wishing to renovate an occupied rental unit to obtain a licence, at a cost of $500 per unit, before renovations begin.
Harrigan’s motion will go before council at its next meeting on August 10.
