In 2009 two initiatives were underway to review and evaluate the potential regulation of rental housing in the City of Hamilton. The first initiative was the Neighbourhood Residential Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee (CLC) that focused on Wards 1, 8, 10, and 12. The second initiative builds on the work and community input from the Neighbourhood CLC and expands the review across the City into all Wards, to create a City-wide Community Liaison Committee. Both these initiatives were in accordance to Council direction (October 2008).
Summary of Work and Recommendations from the Neighbourhood Residential Housing Community Liaison Committee (NRRHCLC):
The Neighbourhood Residential Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee (NRRHCLC) was established to investigate the feasibility of regulating residential rental housing in Hamilton. The NRRHCLC operated from January 2009 to July 2009 and conducted extensive community consultation. The Committee met with various stakeholders who included tenants, landlords, realtors, residents and interested citizens.
On September 8, 2009 the Citizen Committee Report entitled "Report 009-001 of the Neighbourhood Residential Housing Community Liaison Committee (Wards 1, 8, 10 & 12)" was presented to the Economic Development and Planning Committee. This report provided a synopsis of the process that was undertaken by the NRRHCLC and their eight (8) recommendations to manage rental housing in the proposed study areas. Staff was directed by Economic and Development Committee to report back on the implications of the recommendations.
Staff is in the process of reporting back on the recommendations, check here for the status.
Summary of Work Completed for the City-Wide Residential Rental Housing Review:
Staff organized three public meetings last summer to obtain input from renters, landlords, and interested citizens on the state of rental housing across the City, as directed by Council (October 2008). In addition to the three public meetings staff also consulted with various neighbourhood, community, and social support organizations. Opportunity for public input was also available through online and printed questionnaires, a total of 172 questionnaires were completed. Public meetings were the first step before establishing the City-wide Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee. Public feedback helped better understand City-wide concerns and determine the members who would form the City-wide CLC.
Staff presentation from the Public Information Centres held in June and July, 2009.
On October 6, 2009, a staff report, "Membership for the Community Liaison Committee for City-Wide Regulation of Rental Housing (PED07296(e)) (City Wide)" was submitted to Economic Development and Planning Committee. This report confirms the membership for the City-wide CLC as well as the requirement that three (3) Councillors be appointed to the City-wide CLC.
Subsequent to this meeting, a motion was introduced by Council directing staff to wait to officially move forward with the establishment of the City-wide CLC until the recommendations from the NRRHCLC were reported on by staff.
Things You Need to Know:
The COW Report 08-030 includes the three recommendations put forth by Council regarding the City-wide approach regarding the potential to regulate residential rental housing. Please refer to Item number four (4) "Review of Tools for Regulating Residential Rental Housing (PED07296(a)) (Wards 1, 8 and 10) (Item 6.3)" of the report, specifically items 4h, 4i and 4j.
The Review of Tools for Regulating Residential Rental Housing (PED07296(a)) (Wards 1, 8 and 10) Report was presented to Council October 2008. The report addresses the issue of reviewing tools to regulate rental housing. The recommendation to establish a Residential Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee for Wards 1, 8, 10 & 12 stems from this report - this is now known as the Neighbourhood (Wards 1, 8, 10 & 12) Residential Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee . It was also based on this report that Council directed staff to establish a City-wide Community Liaison Committee.
The Public Information Centres & Community Liaison Committee for City-Wide Regulation of Rental Housing (PED07296(c)) Report provides an outline of the recommended process in order to establish the City-wide Residential Rental Housing Community Liaison Committee.