Proposed bylaw including pest control measures for Ottawa rental properties
Posted Aug 18, 2020 06:48:00 PM.
The City of Ottawa is looking into how it can to improve standards of living in local rental properties.
The Community and Protective Services Committee will meet Thursday morning to discuss the proposed Rental Housing Property Management Bylaw. It would require owners of apartment buildings with 10 or more units, or three or more storeys, to develop a capital maintenance plan.
“Electrical systems, plumbing, fire escapes, accessibility features, roofs, these type of major capital items,” said committee chair Jenna Sudds. “We want to see what their maintenance plan is so we have assurance there is a plan.”
It would also require landlords to respond to vital service requests within 24 hours.
The Kanata North councillor explained to 1310 NEWS that the bylaw will also focus on pest control measures, which is the number one complaint from tenants. The proposed bylaw would make sure landlords undertake preventative inspections and provide educational materials to tenants.
If passed at the committee and council stages, Sudds says the bylaw would go into effect in about 12 months.
