Around 100 landlords in Windsor gathered outside Windsor City Hall Monday evening to protest the Residential Rental Housing Licensing pilot program.
The pilot program, introduced in February, requires all property owners in Wards 1 and 2 with four or fewer units to obtain a residential rental licence for each rented unit. The aim is to improve the rental stock and property standards.
But Borys Sozanski with the Windsor Housing Providers Inc. believes the requirement creates unnecessary bureaucracy.
"The reality is, the city has the current tools right now to enforce safety. That's what the fire department is there for, that's what the building department is there for. Any complaint that is 311-oriented gets referred to the property department and they investigate," said Sozanski.
To get a license, property owners need to complete a form, confirm ownership, show proper insurance and show that the unit meets legislated requirements including building code, fire code, and electrical safety standards.
Sozanski said these requirements place undue burden and costs on landlords.
"It's eventually going to increase the rents for tenants because... the landlord-tenant board has ruled that these licences costs can be passed on to the cost of rents," said Sozanski.
The Windsor Housing Providers has filed a motion in court to have the bylaw thrown out.
Counsel for the group Stephen Pickard said both sides have agreed to an order that property owners will not be penalized for failing to comply with the requirements until the motion is heard in court. That motion will not be heard until the week of November 27.
Licencing applications are due on May 31, 2023. The city is still able to advise owners to apply for the licence.