A landlord who evicted five long term tenants from his 795 College St. low-rise building in order to do renovations to their units was fined a hefty $75,000. Due to a legal loophole the landlord ignoring their requests to return to their units and re-rented the new units for three times the price.
The Landlord and Tenant’s Board originally ordered the tenants out as a result of the rental housing law allowing the eviction of tenants during renovations. The tenants complained that the law was being used in bad faith and the Board ruled against them. It seems that the Board is powerless to order the new tenants out or to get the former tenants back into their units.
One of the tenants requested the Board find the landlord for acting in bad faith and to issue an order so they can return to their units.
795 College Inc. has been charged for Failing to Afford a Tenant a Right of First Refusal on three counts with $100,000 for each fine. A hearing is scheduled for August.
Source: https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2019/02/24/landlord-fined-75000-for-evicting-tenants-in-bad-faith-money-it-can-recoup-in-less-than-a-year-from-higher-rents.html