Oakville councillors have taken steps, which they hope will preserve the town’s existing supply of rental housing stock while strengthening tenant protections.
Council voted to approve a rental housing protection bylaw and demolition control bylaw during its meeting on Monday, July 10.
Assistant town solicitor Dennis Perlin noted in a report to council that the loss of rental housing in general and affordable rental housing in particular has become a growing concern in recent years.
He referenced a property owner’s recent proposal to demolish 59 affordable rental units at 50 Speers Rd., and replace them with a 309-rental-unit apartment building at market rents.
“This report proposes a S99.1 Rental Housing Protection Bylaw to protect existing rental housing from demolition or conversion to condominium or other non-residential rental purposes or to non-residential purposes by way of a Section 99.1 Permit with conditions,” said Perlin.
The permit system would essentially require a property owner seeking to demolish or convert a residential rental property with six or more units to satisfy a number of conditions.