The RHEU, run by the province, is mandated to uphold landlord and tenant rights. It has the power to investigate complaints and fine individual landlords up to $50,000. It works independently from the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
Of the ministry’s $1-billion operating expense budget for its housing program this year, $1.8 million goes to the RHEU, according to the ministry’s website. The RHEU’s budget is expected to stay the same next year.
In comparison, Ontario’s animal welfare service agency, which also employs officers to enforce provincial law, has an annual budget of $21 million.
Meanwhile, you have foreign buyers putting in illegal 9 unit apartments in a duplex and taking advantage of the people who don’t have means to fight them. And the board has a two year waitlist for hearing complaints.
#FuckLandlords
I’m on disability. It is illegal to discriminate against those with disability. I have had multiple landlords immediately change their mind upon learning I’m on disability. One woman even said sure, come over with the deposit tomorrow. When I showed up she had cops there and said In was trying to trespass. Explained the deal to the cops and they left but the woman said she doesn’t trust people on disability. I’ve had other people actively say in postings that they will not rent to people with disability.
I’ve reported at least 10 people over the past 4-5 years. Slam dunk situations with recorded phone calls admitting bias. Emails doing the same.
Nothing ever happened to any of them.
I can’t believe how organizations like LTB and RHEU (the latter of which I’m just learning about today) are falling behind. This should be the one thing that both landlords and tenants should agree on: timely justice.
The only thing surprising about this is that the animal welfare agency seems to be less underfunded than other provincial agencies. I wonder what they had to do to keep their budget intact.
