Ontario Construction News staff writer
A Hamilton bylaw meant to address maintenance concerns at apartments in the city while protecting tenants from renovictions took effect Jan. 1.
Called the Safe Apartment Buildings program, the bylaw will promote clean and secure rental apartments for tenants, while supporting landlords in maintaining quality housing, the city says in a statement.
The bylaw sets conditions requiring annual registration for rental apartment buildings with two or more storeys and six or more units.
It introduces building evaluations with public scores based on maintenance practices and standards and supports transparent tenant service request processes so issues inside units are addressed in a reasonable timeframe, the city says.
Approved by Hamilton city council in 2024, the bylaw does not apply to condominiums, long-term care homes, licensed residential care or retirement homes, lodging homes or housing co-operatives.
Staff plan to conduct evaluations of maintenance and cleaning practices, health, safety, and customer service at approximately 900 larger rental complexes by September 2027.
Building operators must prepare annual plans, including for pest management, cleanliness and “state-of-good-repair” maintenance.
Registration carries a $60-per-unit fee. Nonprofits and subsidized units are exempt from the fee but would pay for audits and fines.
Landlords must provide copies of plans to tenants who ask for them, create a process to deal with service requests including a related log — and use certified professionals for service calls.
The Hamilton and District Apartment Association has said the program adds inspection and certification that duplicate existing provincial requirements, diverting resources from actual repairs and reinvestment in aging buildings.
