Kingston Special Admin Committee - 24 Jan

The city council meeting on 24 Jan discussed the following points. Meeting details can be found here.

Members present: Councillor Gary Oosterhof, Councillor Jimmy Hassan, , Councillor Don Amos, Councillor Gregory Ridge, Councillor Cony Glenn, Councillor Jeff McLaren

1. Rental Licensing and Inspections: A delegate highlighted the proposal from 2017 about residential licensing and inspections aimed at phasing out small rental properties in favor of large-scale development. The delegate argued that this approach would introduce more risk and cost to small landlords, potentially squeezing them out of the market in Kingston. There was a mention of ongoing studies by groups like Developmental Services Ontario to understand the causes behind small landlords leaving the market and strategies to attract more to Kingston.

2. Impact on Small Landlords: Several delegates, identified as small landlords, shared their concerns about the proposed licensing and inspection fees, fearing they would be priced out of the market. They highlighted the challenges of potentially having to increase rents to cover new costs, which could lead to losing tenants or reducing their own income.

3. Safety and Standards: Questions were raised about the necessity of additional licensing, given existing Property Standards and mechanisms through the Landlord and Tenant Board to address issues. Some delegates suggested that better support for existing systems might be more effective than introducing new layers of regulation and cost.

4. Housing Supply and Affordability: Concerns were voiced about the potential reduction in rental supply and the consequent increase in rental prices due to the proposed regulations. It was argued that the regulations could deter individuals from offering rental units, particularly smaller, affordable ones, thereby exacerbating the housing crisis.

5. Potential Solutions: Alternatives to licensing were proposed, such as developing a database of rental properties using existing tax records to connect with owners for enforcement purposes. It was suggested that focusing on enforcing existing Property Standards through targeted inspections could address problem properties without burdening responsible landlords.

6. Tenant Perspectives: The need for stronger enforcement of Property Standards to protect tenants from unsafe living conditions was acknowledged. The discussions highlighted a gap between the regulations and their enforcement, with tenants often hesitant to report issues due to fear of reprisal.

Option One Passed: The vote on option one (a residential rental registry system for 1-4 units) was called, and it passed, with all members in favor except for Councillor Jeff McLaren, who was opposed.

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