Fees dropped as Brampton seeks adherence to rental licensing program

Brampton is doing away with the fees it has been charging to get property owners to take part in the residential licensing program (RRL).

Up until now, landlords have been charged $300 annually to obtain the license which meant as a sign of good faith that they are properly maintaining their rental units.

Before the program was adopted last year there was a growing outcry that across the city homes were being turned into uncontrolled rooming houses that contained several tenants who were living in unsafe conditions.

Landlords who take part in the program have argued the fee is an unnecessary cash grab that punishes those who follow the rules, while those who skirt the issue don’t have to pay anything and take their chances of not being caught by overwhelmed bylaw enforcement officers.

Along with the elimination of fees, Brampton is also offering a free smoke alarm to those who take part in the RRL.

Mayor Patrick Brown said the pilot program is constantly evolving and that the fees were never meant as an extra tax burden.

“The goal has only been to crack down on slum conditions in our city,” said the mayor at a morning press conference today (Feb. 20). “We want to make sure we are not seeking individuals (tenants) taken advantage of by living in horrible and unsafe conditions.”

The mayor went on to say that the “slums” created by overcrowding rental units have become a fire hazard as well as creating parking and waste collection issues in the city.

“We’ve all heard about 25 people living in a basement apartment,” Brown said. “That’s what we are trying to avoid.”

Not all areas of Brampton are part of the program but the city is considering making it city-wide.

Here is who is required to get an RRL now:

• Property owners in Wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7
• Properties that are renting four or less units
• Owners of rental housing units
• Operators of rental housing units
• Dwelling units used or intended to be used for a rental housing unit

Property owners who are not registered can be fined up to $1,200.

Brampton believes there are more than 16,000 unregistered units in the city.