Several dozens of small “mom and pop” landlords gathered peacefully in front of Tribunals Ontario in downtown Toronto today Friday May 27th, from 11 am to protest the “excessive hearing delays” at the Landlords and Tenants Board – LTB. The crowd of concerned landlords gathered with slogans reflecting their frustration due to the lack of communications and the excessive delays landlords and tenants are experiencing to get a hearing date or a decision after the hearing.
The average wait time while coming down is still excessive mentioned some protesters. ” I am waiting 12 months for a hearing” read one sign while another begged “Adjudicators process your decisions within 30 days!” as the wait time is impacting the landlords’ emotional and financial well being.
The Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO) Inc – organizing the protest is a grassroots movement of small landlords concerned with the LTB delays and aims to educate the public and the decision makers that the hearing delays impact negatively both tenants and landlords and contribute to the current housing crisis in Ontario. Unlike corporate landlords with hundred of “doors” small landlords are very vulnerable from several months of non rent payment. Many frustrated landlords are exiting the rental market or leaving their property empty making the rental housing crisis even worse in Ontario.
The fact that a tenant or a landlord can not get his / her case heard on a timely manner encourages bad behavior by “professional tenants” – described as tenants who use the LTB delays to live rent free at the expense of small landlords said Mary Gratton, one of the volunteer organizers.
Several mainstream and specialized media covered the event. And the passing public was very sympathetic to the message as many understood it is in the interest of both tenants and landlords to have a functioning Tribunal to mediate and arbitrate the disputes on a timely manner.
