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WHITBY FREE PRESS, TUESDAY, DEC. 30, 1986, PAGE 15 RENT REWEW UPDATE FOR IEJÉNýANTS AND LAýNDLORDS The Miisty of Housing anouncesfthe Rent Review Guideline for 18 The Rent ReView Guideline for next year has been calculated at 5.2 per cent This is the amount by which a landiord can increase the maximum rent for- a unit during 1987 wvithout approval from the Ministry of Housing. In passing the Residential Rent Regulation Act, 198 6, the Ontario Government has created a new system of rent review for the Province of Ontario to increase protection for tenants and to encourage the construction of new rentai housing._ One of the important features of this new legisiation is a Rent Review Guideline that reflects changes in inflation and promotes proper building maintenance for tenants. .T lhe major features of the Residentiai lient Regulation Act are:. *eThie extension of rent review to cover ail private rentai units Ini Ontario. The creation of a streaiulned rent rcview proceàs, designed to be accessible, quieker and ensure consistency. a*The establishment of a flexible lient Review Guldeline, adjusted annuaily to reflect changes i inflation and other economic factors. a The creation of an Ontario-wlde fient Registry to record thc maximum legal rent for every rentai unit in thc province. e A RegidentialRentalStandardsfloard to, ensure the proper maintenance of ail rentai properties iOntario. The Guidene lias charged. Until now, the Guideline lias been a fixed a.mount that did flot change with economie conditions. 77w new flent Review Guidelineu>ili be adiuted annually. Iudllbe calculated usîng the most up-to-date oemponents of the ConsumerPrimIndex'and oer eoenmi inditor. And iwill apply to ali rental units in theprovinoe. llow the new Rent Review GuideIine is calculated. "*The formula used to calculate the 5.2 per cent Guidellne for 1987 is based on changes i the cost of maintaining a typical weil- run rentai building. " The new Guideline caiculates the average change in costs over the preceding three- year p'eriod. "lèbnants receive greater protection i tmes of high inflation. *Landiords have sufficient funds for good building maintenance. A new flRa7dntial Rentai Standardsfioard wili help ensure proper maintenance of rentai units through- out Ontario, and failure to mccl these standards may resuit hi cither suspension or forfeiture of rent increases. Tenants cSn apply for a review of rent increases that are at or below the Guideline. 'lènants who wish to challenge a 5.2 per cent Guideline fincrease may apply to the Ministry of Housing for rent review on sucli grounds as changes in Uic standard of maintenance and repairs. Lndilords are required to justify a rent increase greater than the Guidelie. A landiord who requests more than the 5.2 per cent Guideine increase must apply to the Ministry of Housing for rent review to justify the increase. The landiord and tenants wii review the matter with staff of thc Ministry of Housing at a local Rent Review Office. A decision readhed at the local level may be appealed by cither the tenant or landiord to the newly- crcated fietRfeviewffeaiings Boartt The Guideine wiil be announced by August 31 each year. In future, the Ministry of Housing will announqe the Guideline by August 31 for the upeomingycar. Some landiords have already served their C tenants with notices of a rent increase due carly I 1987. Tenanlts hi buildngs constructed ater 1975 are protected for the flrst time. These are tenants whose units arc being brouglit under rent review by this Act. "Landiords who have charged tenants more than the Guideine since August 1, 1985, wHilbe given a 60-day period early in Uic ncw year to justify these increases. " Landiords not applying to rent rcvicw within the 60-day period must rebate excess rents to tenants. " For the present, tenants should pay the amnount requested in the notice from their landiord until the matter is resolved by rent review. " Under no circurnstanoes siwidd tenants make immediate dedusionsfrorn their rent chewqus. Only one rent increase allowed annually. " Landords must give tenants at Ieast 90 days written notice of a rent increase. " The rent for'a unit can be increased pny once i a 12-monthperiod. Tenants in buildings constructed before 1976 continue to be protected. These are tenants whose units were under rent review prior to the passage of the newAct and whose units continue to be under rent r eview. e If the landlord's rent notice is for lmssthan the 5.2 per cent iGuidelin'e, the tenant should pay the aniaunt i the notice. * If the Iandlord's rent notice is for more than the 5.2 per cent Guideline, the most the tenant should pay is 5.2 per cent e If the landiord has applied to the Residential Tenancij Commission for a 1986 rent increase but bas not yet received a final order, the tenant should pay the amount in.the landlord's notice or 4 per cent~ whichever is less. *If the landiord has been to rent review and bas received a decision, the tenant must pay the amount approved by the Residentiail 7nancy commission. For more Information, complete and return this coupon. MLNISTRY 0F HOUSING fRNT REVIEW DIVISION 4TH FLOOR. 777 BAY STREET TORONTO, ONTARIO M50 2E5 YP»S'l>lasc scnd me turthcr information explaining thc new lient Rcview Guideline. NAME ADRESS CITY IXOSTAI CODE OMinistry of Housing Ontario Hon. Alvin Curling, Minister. Send today for more information about the new Rent Revîew Guideline