Planning Staff are developing a rental replacement by-law for Kitchener Council’s consideration in 2024. Such a bylaw could ensure that tenants are provided with equivalent housing when they are displaced and that the city’s affordable housing stock is not diminished.
The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region has long reported that existing affordable housing, social networks and supports are being lost in the process of redevelopment. Sitting tenants are evicted when the landlord wants to demolish, repair or convert the rental unit to another use. City of Kitchener Planning Staff shared statistics from the Landlord and Tenant Board demonstrating that displacements due to ‘renoviction’ and ‘demoviction’ are increasing. Staff acknowledge that renoviction and demoviction may also be occurring informally, without proper notice.
To participate in the development of the rental replacement bylaw, contact Senior Planner Richard Kelly-Ruetz — Richard.Kelly-Ruetz@kitchener.ca or 519-741-2200 ext. 7110.
A redevelopment proposal that would include the demoviction of 34 individuals at ‘Rainbow Row’ (93-99 Benton St and 39-43 St George St) is scheduled for a decision at the January 22, 2024 Council meeting. A petition in support of the tenants is available here.
The petition cites legislation in two municipalities in British Colombia. The Burnaby, BC rental replacement legislation is available here. The Westminster, BC bylaw addressing renoviction was repealed after the Province of British Columbia’s amendments to their Provincial Residential Tenancy Act bylaw made the Westminster bylaw inoperative.
