BHPA – “Championing Residential landlords in the Flower City”

May 25, 2024

Introducing “Brampton Housing Providers Association” (BHPA) the new grass root organisation championing the Rights and Responsibilities of Residential Landlords in the city of Brampton.

Vilified by a certain press and activists, small scale housing providers – aka as landlords – have proven to be the bedrock of affordable housing in Canada. More than half of the rentals stock are from “mom and pop” landlords – according to Statistics Canada. In the dynamic landscape of rental housing, there is a crucial yet often overlooked voice: that of the residential landlord.

In Brampton, Ontario, BHPA wants to be the advocacy group steadfastly dedicated to defending the rights and promoting the interests of residential landlords across the city and neighbouring communities.

Ravi Sohal is part of the steering committee to set up this new organisation to give a light to the challenges housing providers and good tenants faces.

What inspired you to start this grassroots organisation, when the media is full of stories of bad “landlords” in an acute housing crisis environment?

RS: The inspiration to start the Brampton Housing Provider Association (BHPA) stemmed from a genuine need to address the housing crisis in a constructive and collaborative manner. While it’s true that the media often highlights negative stories about landlords, creating a one-sided narrative, our experiences and observations showed that many housing providers are dedicated, responsible, and genuinely care about their tenants and the broader community. At the same time, we hear about landlords’ bad experiences with professional tenants who engage in non-payment of rent, property damage, and cash-for-keys incidents, which are also regularly in media headlines.

Our goal with BHPA is to foster a supportive network where Brampton landlords can share best practices, receive education on maintaining fair and equitable housing standards, and work together to find innovative solutions to the housing challenges we face.

When we started our fight against the city’s rental licensing, beginning January 2024, we realised the necessity of an organisation that can advocate for Brampton landlords at the city level. This includes voicing opposition to regulations like the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) and demanding fairness from the provincial government to fix the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Every day, landlords struggle with the city’s draconian approach. Especially concerning is the current Brampton City Hall’s focus on lobbying for corporate rentals while ignoring the needs of small landlords.

Ultimately, our goal with the BHPA is to contribute positively to the housing sector, ensuring that all voices are heard and working towards solutions that benefit the entire community. We are driven by a vision of a fair, transparent, and collaborative housing environment where both landlords and tenants can thrive.

Who are you targeting and what are the core values driving your mission?

SG: We are targeting small and independent housing providers in Brampton who are dedicated to maintaining fair and equitable housing standards. Our members include responsible landlords who genuinely care about their tenants and the broader community, and who are seeking support, education, and advocacy in navigating the complex landscape of housing regulations and challenges.

The core values driving our mission at the Brampton Housing Provider Association (BHPA) are:

Creating a Balanced Narrative: We strive to ensure that all interactions between landlords and tenants are conducted with equity and justice. We advocate for fair treatment from regulatory bodies, either city hall or provincial or federal and work to address discrepancies that disadvantage housing providers.
Improving Landlord-Tenant Relationships: We believe in open communication and clear, honest practices. Transparency is crucial in building trust and fostering positive relationships between landlords, tenants, and regulatory authorities.
Collaboration: We understand that solving the housing crisis requires a collaborative approach. By bringing together landlords, tenants, government agencies, and other landlord advocacy organizations, we work towards innovative and inclusive solutions that benefit everyone.
Support: Many small and independent housing providers lack the support and resources they need to navigate complex regulatory environments and financial challenges. By forming this association, we aim to offer that support and advocate for policies that benefit both housing providers and tenants, contributing to a more sustainable and equitable housing market.
Advocacy: We actively voice the concerns and needs of Brampton landlords, especially at the city level and with the provincial government. Our advocacy efforts focus on ensuring that the policies and regulations are fair and beneficial to both landlords and tenants.

How do you envision engaging and involving the local community -elected officials, corporate landlords, tenants etc .. – in your initiatives and projects?

RS: Engaging and involving the local community—elected officials, corporate landlords, tenants, and other stakeholders—is central to our mission at the Brampton Housing Provider Association (BHPA). We believe that meaningful collaboration is essential to addressing the housing challenges we face and ensuring the success of our initiatives. Here’s how we envision this engagement:

Open Forums and Workshops: We plan to host regular forums and workshops that invite participation from all community members. These events will provide a platform for landlords, tenants, elected officials, and corporate landlords to share their perspectives, discuss concerns, and collaboratively develop solutions.
Partnerships with Other Organizations: We aim to partner with local community organizations, tenant associations, and advocacy groups to align our efforts and amplify our impact. By working together, we can leverage each other’s strengths and resources to achieve common goals.
Delegate to City Hall for City Policies: Engaging with elected officials at the municipal levels is critical. We will actively delegate to city hall committee of council for policy discussions, provide input on legislative proposals, and advocate for fair and effective housing policies that benefit both landlords and tenants.
Community Outreach and Communication: Effective communication is key to community engagement. We will use various channels—newsletters, social media, community meetings, and local media—to keep the community informed about our activities, upcoming events, and opportunities for involvement.
Tenant and Landlord Education Programs: We will offer education programs for both landlords and tenants to promote understanding of rights and responsibilities, foster good relationships, and encourage best practices in property management and tenancy.

Can you share a specific goal or project that your organisation aims to accomplish in the near future, to assist good tenants and good landlords share a common win-win outcome?

RS: One specific goal our organization aims to accomplish in the near future is to address and reform the Residential Rental License (RRL) recently introduced by Brampton City Hall. This by-law, intended to solve the city’s housing problems, unfortunately places good and bad landlords in the same category, creating unnecessary burdens for responsible landlords who maintain high standards and positive relationships with their tenants.

We will organize a public protest at city hall where landlords can voice their concerns and suggestions regarding the RRL. Together, we will push for reforms that improve the fairness and efficiency of the RRL, ensuring it addresses the root issues without unfairly penalizing good landlords.

In parallel, we are committed to working on improving the processing times and fairness at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Working with SOLO and other groups, we will raise our voice together with policy changes aimed at improving the Residential Tenancies Act.

By focusing on these projects, we aim to create a win-win outcome for both good tenants and good landlords. Responsible landlords should not be penalized for the actions of a few bad actors, and tenants should benefit from living in well-managed, compliant properties. Through our efforts, we hope to foster a more supportive and equitable housing environment in Brampton.

How do you plan to achieve it with the support of community members?

RS: Achieving our goals of reforming the Residential Rental License (RRL) and improving the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) processing will require strong support from community members, including landlords, tenants, and advocacy groups. We plan to engage community members by spreading awareness on city radio channels, community meets, contact WhatsApp admins for area wise landlord groups and sending newsletters.

What is your expectation on the first meeting this Sunday June 2nd, 2024?

RS: For the first meeting on Sunday, June 2nd, 2024 in inauguration of Association and first meetup. It will be official kick off. We have several expectations and goals:

Attendance: We hope for a strong turnout from community members, including landlords, tenants, and advocacy groups. A high level of attendance will demonstrate the community’s interest and support for our cause.
Engagement: We expect active participation and engagement from attendees. This includes asking questions, sharing experiences, and contributing ideas for how we can achieve our goals of reforming the RRL and improving the LTB processing.
Information Sharing: We plan to share information about the current status of the RRL, LTB processing issues, and our advocacy efforts.
Networking: The meeting will provide an opportunity for community members to network and connect with each other. Building a strong community of support is essential for achieving our goals.
First in-person meeting with partner organization and advocates: For the first in-person meeting with partner organizations and advocates, it’s essential to create a productive and engaging environment.

Thanks you very much and we wish you the best!