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.

As before, 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 the minimum necessary to perform urgent repairs and to maintain the essential operations of the buildings. See note B below for further precautions.

Businesses which are NOT subject to the shut down premises order INCLUDE the following:

20. Maintenance, repair and property management services strictly necessary to manage and maintain the safety, security, sanitation and essential operation of institutional, commercial, industrial and residential properties and buildings.

Note: It would appear that for unit turns the only repair work that should still be done is for life safety, accessibility, and the provision of necessary plumbing and electrical services and appliances, or to finish renovation work, which was started before April 4, 2020 (see para 30 iii below). Formerly, movers were deemed essential but their status is now up in the air.

1.Businesses that supply other essential businesses or essential services within Ontario, or that supply businesses or services that have been declared essential in a jurisdiction outside of Ontario, with the support, products, supplies, systems, or services, including processing, packaging, warehousing, distribution, delivery, and maintenance necessary to operate.

6. Security services for residences, businesses and other properties.

13. Hotels, motels, other shared rental accommodation including student residences, except for seasonal campgrounds and any pools, fitness centres, meeting rooms and other recreational facilities that may be part of the operations of these businesses.

16.Businesses that provide the following financial services:
i.    Capital markets and related securities trading and advisory services.
ii.    Banking/credit union activities
iii.    Insurance.
iv.    Land registration services.
v.    Real estate agent services.
vi.    Pension and benefits payment services.
vii.    Financial services including payroll and payment processing and accounting and tax services.

30. Residential construction projects where,
i.    a footing permit has been granted for single family, semi-detached and townhomes
ii.    an above grade structural permit has been granted for condominiums, mixed use and other buildings, or
iii.    the project involves renovations to residential properties and construction work was started before April 4, 2020.

36. Organizations and providers that deliver home care services or personal support services to seniors and persons with disabilities.

A. The numbers are the numbers that appears in the list of businesses found in the Backgrounder posted at the Newsroom of the Premier’s office.

B. Businesses which leave their offices open should follow proper practices to maintain the health and safety of their employees and the public. That includes:

  • Social distancing (staying 2 meters — 6 feet — away from other people)
  • Frequent handwashing
  • Enhanced cleaning and disinfection
  • Accommodating self-isolation for people who have travelled outside Canada, or show have had close contact with a person with a known or presumptive case of Covid-19.

C. The Ontario business shutdowns announced on March 23 and April 3 do not preclude the provision of work and services by entities not on this list either online, by telephone or by mail/delivery. Teleworking and online commerce are permitted at all times for all businesses.