Rental Unit Repair Licence Review The City of London is reviewing proposed amendments to the Business Licensing By-law to introduce a Rental Unit Repair Licence to help deal with the issue of ‘renovictions’. This work is focused on licensing “renovictions” to ensure tenants and landlords are aware of their rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act, and disincentivizing landlords from using N13 Notices to evict tenants under false pretenses. This new licence would apply to renovations to rental units that are so extensive that they require a tenant to move out. Background Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants who rent residential properties (i.e., an apartment, a house, or a room in a rooming or boarding house, care homes, retirement homes, etc.). The Landlord & Tenant Board Act is provincial legislation that dictates how to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants, and eviction applications from non-profit housing co-operatives, through mediation or adjudication. This Act also provides information to landlords and tenants about their rights and responsibilities under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). Under the RTA, landlords that require a unit to be empty to undertake extensive renovations have the right to evict tenants. When doing so, the landlord must give the tenant the opportunity to return to their unit at the current rental rate upon completion of the renovation. The tenant must ensure their intent to return is provided to the landlord in writing. Continue reading

London is expected to experience the first significant winter storm of the season, a mix of snow, blowing snow, rain and ice, beginning today and into Thursday morning. The City of London is asking residents to be vigilant and take steps to prepare ahead of the weather conditions worsening. Salting and sanding roads and sidewalks City crews are out applying sand and salt to main roads and bus routes. The City is monitoring road conditions and will update the london.ca/snowwebpage throughout the storm. Give yourself extra time to get to where you need to be Highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become icy, slippery and hazardous. Londoners are reminded to slow down, be mindful of others, give yourself a little extra time when travelling, and check ahead of time to make sure your destination is open and accessible. Stay clear and off all bodies of water The Upper Thames River Conversation Authority is reminding Londoners to take caution around watercourses. Banks next to rivers and creeks are very slippery and, when combined with cold, fast-moving water, pose a serious hazard. Any ice cover that may be present is weak and unstable. Children and pets should be kept away from waterways and flooded areas. Continue reading

London will begin a Green Bin program the week of January 15, 2024. A Green Bin is like a blue (recycling) bin, but for food waste such as fruit and vegetable skins, meat and chicken, spoiled leftovers, and other inedible food waste like bones. The Green Bin would be collected from your home at the curbside much like your Blue Box is.  Organic materials such as food scraps, spoiled food, and soiled paper can make up nearly half our residential garbage by weight. Using your Green Bin and properly recycling and sorting your waste helps our community: Reduce  greenhouse gasses like the methane gas created when organic material breaks down in the landfill Turn waste into a new resource that feeds local farms and soils Extend the life of our landfill by keeping organic materials out Continue reading

City accepting idea submissions for 2023 Neighbourhood Decision Making program  The City of London is excited to announce the launch of the sixth annual Neighbourhood Decision Making program. Through the program, Londoners can submit ideas to improve their local neighbourhood for a chance to make them a reality.  A total of $250,000 is available through the program to enhance neighbourhoods across the city. Individual projects can receive up to $30,000 in funding. Projects may include bike repair stations, playground upgrades, electric vehicle charging stations, community pantries, pollinator pathways, little free libraries and streetlights, to name a few. We encourage Londoners to submit their own project ideas, big or small, since they know their neighbourhoods best.   Continue reading

Hubs Implementation Engagement Opportunities Next steps and upcoming engagement opportunities: Following Council endorsement of the Hubs Implementation Plan, City staff will now undertake a number of next steps: A competitive procurement process will be initiated to identify lead agencies and proposed locations for the first five Hubs, which are intended to be established by December 2023. Advocacy efforts will continue for funding to support implementation of the plan. Engagement opportunities on London’s Whole of Community System Response to the health and homelessness crisis continue at the end of August, giving Londoners more opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback on the Hubs Implementation Plan. Residents can attend at any one of five in-person sessions taking place between August 30 and September 7. Feedback is also being sought on an ongoing and continuous basis through this webpage. Please share your comments with us. Hubs are facilities designed to include common core functions, such as access to care, health and wellness services, 24/7 safe places, transitional and respite beds, and one phone number to call for referral. The hubs will also support a timely and direct pathway to housing. The new series of in-person engagement sessions will provide information about the proposed services and timelines and help answer questions. Feedback from these sessions will help inform Council decisions, including locations and lead agencies for the first five Hubs. Continue reading