As some Wednesday night news was abuzz with controversy that the Ontario Government has selected potentially unqualified persons to chair and adjudicate at Tribunals Ontario, SOLO was hard at work identifying practical solutions to help lower the instances of applications to the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario. Fewer applications would certainly help everyone during an unprecedented time of high case volume. Wait times are currently over 8 months and applications continue to stream in as small landlords are faced with professional non-paying tenants. Tenants are becoming aware of the unprecedented hearing wait times and are increasingly choosing to exploit the situation for free housing at a small landlord’s expense; and often by deceiving a representing realtor.
SOLO is advocating for innovative education opportunities for realtors to improve screening of potential tenants. In early 2022 a partnership was proposed by SOLO to the TREB (Toronto Real Estate Board) to strike up a collaboration and supply vital curriculum educating realtors for tenant screening and the RTA (Residential Tenancies Act, 2006). Though then CEO of TREB, Lisa Patel, was not open to discussing such a project at the time, SOLO is hopeful that the recent news will generate a renewed sense of the broad need. SOLO will soon submit a partnership proposal for the education of realtors across the province of Ontario with the current senior management team of OREA (Ontario Real Estate Association), amid hopes for a good reception.
Asked Thursday about the urgency of this initiative SOLO board member Varun Sriskanda explained, “Landlords trust realtors to find them good tenants and protect them against “professional tenants” and anyone who brings criminal behaviour to their property. The realtor needs to know what tools are available for their Landlord client in screening tenants, how to properly identify forged documents, go the extra mile in verifying the legitimacy of income information, and be on guard against becoming the tool or dupe of an unscrupulous tenant. Not doing so means a 10+ month wait at the Landlord and Tenant Board and if that happens they [landlords] come back to the Realtor looking for answers.”
SOLO Board Chair Boubah has repeatedly emphasized over the months that education is key to avoid these financially trapping situations in the first place but now more than ever as the wheels of justice for landlords and tenants have ground to a near standstill.
“I had one case where the landlord has no driver license, no ID – nothing – on the tenant. I told him that, “You realize that you don’t know for sure who is in your house.” It was a realtor selected tenant. The only thing they had was an “employment letter” with a phone number on it. [The tenant] Has not paid for 7 months and will certainly never pay…” He said in a group discussion Thursday afternoon, feeling deeply for any parties at risk in this unusual housing climate of both low housing supply coupled with a devastating lack of timely dispute resolution.
At this point organizations who can immediately install best practices should do so. All stakeholders in the housing market need to do our part and help stop professional tenants before they get through the doors of a small landlord. Increased knowledge of the Ontario rental housing system is critical to realtors in preventing loss and harm for their clients. SOLO proposes that a curriculum with accurate, accessible, legal tools for today’s real estate agent is going to be a lifesaver. It will equip them to evaluate risks and make strong, informed deals for renters and housing providers.
