Newsletter

Rental management businesses now more limited in Ontario On April 3, the Ontario Government has reduced the businesses which are deemed to be essential and which can therefore stay open. Non-essential businesses need to close by midnight on Saturday, April 4. The aspects of maintenance, repair and property management which are essential are those strictly necessary to manage and maintain the safety, security and essential operation of residential properties and buildings. Therefore, rental management businesses are legally allowed to continue their operations and keep their offices open for those purposes. Note: CFAA will continue to serve our members remotely through email and telephone. [...]

CMHC and tenant advocates say tenants should pay their rents if they can This morning, CBC News published an article about the need for tenants to pay their rent, if they are able to. Evan Siddall, President & CEO of CMHC, released the following tweets on March 21, which the articles quotes: Please share widely: compassionate relief of mortgage and rent payments is NOT an amnesty nor an opportunity to save money. We must all pay our bills wherever we can. Leave relief to those who need it! [view tweet] Like hoarding toilet paper or sanitizer, not paying your mortgage or [...]

Dealing with tenants' claims to not pay their rent More information should be forthcoming in the next few days, and CFAA will send it to you. For now, the best things you can do are the following. If the tenant says they cannot pay their rent, tell them that in the next few days you will get back to them about government help for them to pay their rent. If the tenant says they won’t pay, tell them that in the next few days you will get back to them about government help for them to pay their rent. You can also tell them that [...]

Rental management businesses CAN stay open in Ontario On March 23, the Ontario Government announced the mandatory shutdown of workplaces not deemed to be essential. Rental management has been deemed to be essential. Therefore, rental management businesses are legally allowed to continue their operations and keep their offices open for their employees. However, that does NOT mean they should conduct business as was usual before Covid-19. ALL businesses should minimize in-person contact as much as possible, including operating by telephone or over the internet as much as possible. Rental businesses should limit the contact of their employees with building residents to [...]

CFAA Tax Retreat Postponed from April 6 Due to the concerns about the impact of travel and group gatherings on the spread of COVID-19, CFAA has decided to postpone the tax retreat scheduled for April 6 to an indefinite time in the future. CFAA will be in touch with those registered to make arrangements to refund or credit the fee to attend the retreat. Along with the black cloud that is COVID-19, there is a small silver lining in that it appears highly unlikely that the government would introduce tax increases either in the capital gains tax or by [...]

Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response - what's in it for landlords? The Government of Canada is taking action to help Canadians facing hardship as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, will provide up to $27 billion in direct support to Canadian workers and businesses. Along with other action, the Government is taking these steps which are relevant to many tenants and the rental housing providers who provide their homes. Temporary Income Support for Workers and Parents directly affected Waiving the one-week waiting period for those individuals in imposed quarantine that claim Employment Insurance (EI) sickness [...]

Along with a number of CFAA’s member associations, CFAA is developing information to assist Canada’s rental housing providers in dealing with the impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19). Expect further information as early as possible next week. Interim Advice Stay calm and check trusted news sources and government websites for the most-up-to-date information. The Government of Canada is maintaining a COVID-19 information webpage that can be accessed here. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and encourage your staff and tenants to do the same. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based [...]