Dalhousie Crescent is one of the areas where homeowners, students and landlords have been at odds because some homeowners speculate that landlords are renting homes out to far too many students.

By Geoff Zochodne/The Oshawa Express 

Council’s latest move to clarify its muddled student housing situation is to keep a list, check it twice and find out which landlords are naughty or nice.

Previously, the City’s Corporate Services Committee directed staff to create a demerit point system that would punish landlords who repeatedly defy Oshawa’s Residential Rental Housing Licensing bylaw (RRHL). Staff reported back that such a system would be too complex and require technology the City doesn’t possess.

The recommendation from staff irked residents who have been trying to get some clarity.

“Bottom line: The City knew we had an issue and has not stood up to the plate,” to help says resident Emil Hanzelka. His beef was with the lack of enforcement for landlords operating lodging houses in the north end. Hanzelka estimates there are 300 to 400 lodging houses operating illegally in the area in and around UOIT and Windfields Farm.

The Canadian Supreme Court previously ruled that landlords were operating lodging houses in the area. A lodging house, as defined by the city, is a house with anywhere from three to 10 units where students or tenants do not know each other and are not a family.

Under Oshawa’s RRHL bylaw, lodging houses are not permitted. However, Hanzelka says nothing has changed.

“These houses operate exactly as they did when (the courts) found the landlords guilty,” he claims. The garbage and noise issues are “all byproducts of the fact we have these illegal lodging houses,” he says.

At an earlier Corporate Services meeting, students from UOIT and Durham College contended the RRHL bylaw was infringing on their student rights.

“Many of the students, particularly at the North Campus, have found themselves feeling victimized by the discriminatory housing bylaw,” said Rachel Calvelli, president of the UOIT/Durham College Student Association. “We at the Student Association believe the Residential Rental Housing Licensing bylaw does violate students human rights.”

The student representatives warned they could file a human rights complaint if the bylaw were not revisited.

Corporate Service Committee members remained focused on renegade landlords. Councillor Roger Bouma argued staff should, at a minimum, be able to maintain a spreadsheet of repeat offenders, building towards an incremental fine system with “real consequences.” 

“I think that we’re trying to make it (the demerit system) more complicated than it need be,” says Councillor Bouma. “It can be kept in a desk drawer as long as it’s used properly.”

A motion from Councillor Bouma asking staff to create a demerit point system on a simple spreadsheet passed unanimously. Staff will report back at the next Corporate Services Committee meeting with their findings.

“I think the residents in the area have lived with the conditions for long enough,” states Councillor Doug Sanders. “We need to enforce it a little better.”

“We need a system like a demerit system,” agrees Councillor Bruce Wood. “It’s not a small issue. It’s been going on for a long time.”

Hanzelka described the demerit point system as “a great idea.”

“It may get rid of the worst of them (landlords),” he says.