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The housing crisis in Canada is real. It is due to immigration policies that welcomed thousands of temporary and permanent residents, but did not anticipate the lack of infrastructure. That is why today the government is prioritizing real estate for living and not just for business.
In provinces such as Ontario, for the housing system to work, contracts must be strictly enforced. This is where Ontario's new Bill 60 comes in, which has reduced the waiting time to initiate an eviction for non-payment from 15 to just 7 days.
In this blog, we will analyze whether we are dealing with a system failure or a lack of ethical principles on the part of the actors involved.
Read with me to the end so we can analyze whether it is the landlord who has to cover this crisis or whether it is a matter of accepting your own inability to pay as a tenant.
In the Canadian real estate sector, it is possible to find people with such a high capacity for real estate investment that some even have up to 200 keys (apartments or houses), but there are also those who struggle to maintain the mortgage on a single property.
It is true that the immigrant population is mainly concentrated in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, where demand has completely outstripped supply and the cost of living is very high, but the fact that there are large investors or single-home owners does not mean that the private sector should absorb the failures of public policy.
It is a mistake to think that landlords should make up for the lack of housing that the state has failed to provide. The Canadian government's immigration decisions are a public responsibility; therefore, landlords cannot be required to finance the housing crisis to such an extent that they allow their rents to go unpaid.
This is where Ontario's Bill 60 and its purpose come in.
Ontario's new Bill 60 states that if rent is not paid, the waiting period for the landlord to begin the eviction process is only 7 days (previously 14 days).
The objective is to protect the financial stability of the owner, who is usually an individual with mortgage commitments that the banking system does not cover.
Even if the tenant's non-payment is due to genuine financial hardship, under the new rules, the court may require them to deposit 50% of the accumulated debt before allowing them to present any legal defense at the hearing.
Provincial regulations have become stricter. However:
Is it possible to find a balance before the law takes action? Perhaps the answer depends on transparency and effective communication between both parties.
It is important to consider: Is it worth risking your credit history or assets due to a lack of communication?
Legal advice: as an immigration law firm, it is worth mentioning that there is always the possibility of reaching a formal payment agreement before the case escalates to court.
Sensible negotiation can prevent a temporary financial problem from turning into a permanent eviction, which protects both the tenant's stability and the landlord's cash flow.
Of course, each case is different and must be evaluated with professionalism and in-depth legal knowledge.
There is a common critical responsibility : to act to the extent that one's ability to pay allows.
This point is fundamental because it defines how we deal with crises in a country like Canada. It is understandable that there will be economic bumps in the road as newcomers or after settling down, but honesty must prevail.
Our ethical values dictate that, when it is impossible to fulfill a lease agreement, the right thing to do is to return the property. Staying in a property without paying, hoping that the owner will absorb someone else's personal crisis, is not a right; it is an action that affects families who depend on that rent to avoid losing their property to the bank.
You can supplement this analysis with the video: The housing crisis in Canada and landlords on our YouTube channel.
If you find yourself in a situation where paying rent is simply impossible, the smartest and most ethical solution is not to wait for eviction. The key is to voluntarily surrender the property through a legal agreement.
This allows you to:
The crisis is real, but your integrity and your future in this country depend on how you decide to face it.
Do you need legal advice to better understand the changes in Bill 60? At Immiland Law, we can help you. Contact us for more information.
At Immiland Law, we offer specialized real estate law services to facilitate your real estate transactions efficiently and securely.
Our legal team has the necessary experience to guide you through every step of the process, ensuring that your interests are protected at all times.
You can schedule this service at: https://www.immilandcanada.com/law/inmobiliario
Thank you for reading. Don't miss our next blog post on: Did you know that a simple social media post could affect your permanent residence in Canada?
With love,
Immiland Law Professional Corporation
