Joe Hoffer

Bill 97

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Ontario passes controversial Bill 97

Among the changes impacting landlords, Bill 97 includes new protections to limit “renovictions” and introduces changes to the “landlord’s own use” clause.
Cooling deemed key amenity for Ontario renters

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Cooling deemed key amenity for Ontario renters

Conceptually, the proposed rules establish air conditioning as a protected option that tenants cannot be prevented from obtaining rather than an essential that landlords would be compelled to supply.

Canadian Apartment Magazine

‘Tis the season for slip and fall claims

Failing to take the necessary steps to prevent slip and fall accidents can lead to costly litigation and mar the reputation of a building and its management.
Bill 97

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Continued dysfunction mars progress at LTB

It’s been a weary road to resolution for landlords caught in the backlog at the Landlord Tenant Board (LTB), and despite efforts to expidite hearings, new complications abound.
Ombudsman

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act

Updates to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) are coming September 1, 2021, and Ontario landlords are advised to take note.
residential landlords COVID-19

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Weathering the 3rd wave of COVID-19

As COVID-19 variants surge throughout the country, what do the latest lockdown measures mean for residential landlords?
standard lease form

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Ontario’s new standard lease form

The Province of Ontario has updated its standard lease form to take into account RTA changes that were introduced last July by Bill 184.
parcel deliveries

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Parcel deliveries create more woes for landlords

With many regions in the throes of a second lockdown and the holiday season well underway, landlords must have a sound policy on parcel deliveries.
negligence

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Update on status of LTB hearings

In his latest bulletin, Joe Hoffer of Cohen Highley LLP, says landlords should expect LTB hearings to resume in September, once the backlog of pending eviction orders has cleared.
form changes LTB

Canadian Apartment Magazine

The pros and cons of Bill 184

Ontario’s Bill 184 has raised the ire of tenant advocacy groups over concerns it will drive renters further into debt while making evictions easier for landlords.
COVID-19 outbreaks

Canadian Apartment Magazine

The keys to reopening multi-res operations

As Ontario prepares to reopen the economy, what will the upcoming months look like for multi-res operations? Legal expert Joe Hoffer shares important tips to help landlords manage the risks as they navigate their way into "new normal".
negligence

Canadian Apartment Magazine

LTB develops Urgent Hearing Motion form

The LTB has developed an Urgent Hearing Motion form for circumstances in which an eviction order is necessary due to serious cases of impaired safety or illegal acts during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.
BC rent bank

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Help for landlords facing revenue loss

Apartment owners aren’t just fearing heightened exposure to COVID-19, but the potential onslaught of rent defaults by tenants unable to pay.
Ontario benchmarking

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Smaller buildings spared Ontario benchmarking

Owners of smaller commercial and multi-residential buildings in Ontario will still be welcome to voluntarily share energy and water consumption data, but a looming deadline for mandatory disclosure has been withdrawn.
environmental approvals

CondoBusiness

Friendlier CHP environmental approvals welcome

It's still unclear how the process of securing environmental approvals for combined heat and power systems will be streamlined, but the Ontario government's recent pledge has been greeted enthusiastically in the buildings sector.
commercial evictions

Canadian Apartment Magazine

Ontario to scrap obscure rental housing statute

The Residential Complex Sales Representation Act is among dozens of statutes and regulations tagged for revision or outright repeal in proposed omnibus legislation introduced in late October.
small landlord

Canadian Apartment Magazine

The long-term impact of short-term rentals

Rules surrounding short-term rentals have been the subject of much debate in cities all across Canada. What will the long-term effects of the new rules be on Toronto's multi-res apartment owners?