Newsroom

Rental Property Providers Taking Great Strides to Ensure Residents are Safe- A Message from our President & CEO Tony Irwin

The COVID-19 lockdown has presented rental property providers with an unprecedented set of challenges.

As we head into the third month of social distancing and the virtual halt of big sectors of our economy, most residents at rental housing properties are sheltering in place 24/7. This has required rental property managers to go to great lengths to ensure the health and safety of their residents, much of which has resulted in increased costs.

Common areas like elevators and lobbies must be cleaned and disinfected regularly.

Front-line cleaning staff must be supported with protective equipment, and many properties have hired more staff to ensure their buildings remain clean and safe every hour of every day.

There’s an endless stream of packages and deliveries arriving at most buildings, including groceries and vital supplies, that require further sanitation efforts and near constant outreach to residents. Many of our members are personally delivering supplies to the doorsteps of vulnerable residents and checking in on them regularly. One has even made the news in northern Ontario for distributing food essentials to residents.

Property owners and managers are also keeping all residents well-apprised of all the latest COVID-19 developments, via email and by posting notices in public spaces. That includes provincial guidance on social distancing and goals to slowly reopen some businesses.

It’s a challenging time for all of us, but there is now a bright light at the end of the tunnel. The Ford government says much of Ontario’s economy is reopening in the days to come, including construction sites, retailers outside of malls, marinas, golf courses and kennels.

It’s heartening to know that during this historic time, rental property providers and residents came together to weather the coronavirus storm  and will continue to do so.

May 1 is Around the Corner, A Message from Our President & CEO Tony Irwin

The first of the month is just around the corner. May 1 is going to be another challenging time for rental property owners and residents alike as we settle into the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ontario declared a state of emergency about six weeks ago, prompting thousands of businesses to shut down, some of them permanently. More than 400,000 Ontario residents lost their jobs in March alone; that number is likely to have climbed higher in April.

A survey conducted by FRPO shows that small rental property owners were hit disproportionally hard by April 2020 rent defaults spurred by COVID-19 job losses. But many residents whose incomes were lost or reduced due to the pandemic were able to pay their April rent because of savings, or because they were paid for work performed prior to the shutdowns. As May approaches, that may not be the case, meaning May 1 could certainly be even more difficult for rental property owners and residents, who may still be waiting on government assistance cheques if they qualify for them. And it’s again expected that small rental property owners will be hit hardest by their residents’ loss of income.

Our plea to all residents is to pay your rent if you can. If not, reach out to your rental property managers and discuss a fair arrangement for both of you. As one small Toronto rental property owner told Toronto Life magazine: “If tenants need extra time, just ask.”

In the meantime, rental property managers across the province are going to great lengths to ensure their residents have safe, secure and sanitary housing. Some small rental property owners have even dipped into their own savings or run up their lines of credit to ensure their residents can stay put.

Rental housing providers are deferring payments and rent increases, waiving late fees, and providing interest-free support to residents who cannot pay their rent on time.

Other bigger rental property owners are putting together protective packages for site teams across the province. They’re donating to Habitat for Humanity. Some are holding contests and awarding $100 in groceries to the winners, and publicly thanking generous residents who are making face masks for cleaning staff and neighbours at their buildings.

It’s been said repeatedly but it’s worth saying again: We are all in this together. With Ontario announcing some measures this week to slowly and carefully reopen the province, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully May 1 may mark the beginning of the end of the total shutdown of the province’s economy, and we’re inching towards normalcy. In the meantime, let’s continue to watch out for each other and to keep the lines of communication between rental property owners and residents open.

A Message from the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario

A Thank You Message from FRPO President & CEO Tony Irwin

The past few weeks have been unprecedented for all of us here at FRPO. Both rental property owners and residents have been affected by the global coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing shutdown.

I would like to start off by thanking the front line staff and operations teams who are working tirelessly to ensure their residents are being kept healthy and safe by following rigorous cleaning and sanitizing regiments in order to limit the spread of the virus.

Property owners and managers across Ontario have made arrangements with residents to ensure they have secure housing as most Canadians continue to stay home. They are keeping their residents informed as soon as new information becomes available during this ever-changing situation. Reminding and sharing best practices like social distancing in elevators, frequent hand washing etc. There’s also virtual contests going on in many buildings encouraging residents to stay social and engaged from their rental units! They have also done an outstanding job at keeping their front line staff protected by providing them with the tools they need to maintain a healthy work environment.

Yesterday, a member shared with me that a resident manager and assistant manager at a building in Guelph went door to door checking in on elderly and vulnerable residents to see if they needed any grocery items. These two team members then took a shopping trip and delivered the items to their residents in a safe manner. Thank you, these are the kind of efforts in our communities that will help us get through this together!

I have also heard stories of residents, showing amazing support and appreciation for our front-line health-care workers, cheering them on from their balconies a nightly ritual at properties across the Province.

All in all, it’s been uplifting and gratifying to see how rental housing providers and residents are coming together to ensure they get through the crisis as partners. We expect this type of teamwork to continue in the weeks to come.

In conclusion, I would like to wish you all a Happy Passover and Easter! Although these holidays will be like no other in recent memory, let us remember the message of hope. Please continue to stay healthy and safe.

A Message from the Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario

March 27, 2020 
Our members sincerely care about our residents.  We value you and your families.  At this time of emergency, especially, we want you to be safe and secure in your homes.  We know that many residents have had their incomes disrupted by the COVID-19 emergency.  For some, it may be challenging to pay rent on April 1, 2020.

To take some of the stress out of the situation, we have the following advice on what to do if you cannot pay your rent due to the COVID-19 emergency.

1. Reach out to your property manager by phone or online (to respect physical distancing).
2. Explain the situation. 
3. Offer to pay what you can, if possible.
4. Ask about government programs you might qualify for, and for the remainder, discuss a plan for how you could repay over time.

Remember, it is important to please pay your rent if you can. To keep buildings operating, clean, and safe, we need to pay our mortgages, operating costs and employees too.

We understand the situation is unpredictable.  Some financial help is already on the way, and all levels of government have already taken steps to help maintain incomes or reduce costs:

• The Government of Canada has introduced the Canada Emergency Response Benefit which provides $2,000 a month for up to 4 months to individuals who have lost their income as a result of COVID-19. The federal government is also providing a 75% wage subsidy for small and medium-sized businesses so they can keep people employed.
• The Government of Ontario has set aside $148 million for assistance through Municipal Service Managers, which will use the Canada-Ontario Housing Agreement to direct more resources to tenants. The Province has also committed additional financial relief for low-income seniors, families with children and individuals with student loans.
• Some municipalities have offered grace periods for municipal payments such as property taxes, water and other utilities, and our members commit to take that into account in making arrangements and calculating arrears. 

We are hopeful that these measures will help benefit our residents, but they may take time to reach those in need.  We understand. We urge you to keep the lines of communication open with your property manager.

News Release

ABOUT FRPO

The Federation of Rental Housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) is the province’s leading advocate for quality rental housing. FRPO represents over 2,200 rental housing providers who supply and manage homes for over 350,000 resident households across Ontario.

Contact
Tony Irwin, President and CEO
Phone: 416-385-1100 x20
Email: tirwin@frpo.org

Message from FRPO President & CEO Tony Irwin

On March 27th, Tony Irwin provided the following message to FRPO Members. Please click here to watch.

Rental housing providers meet with Mayor Tory

(Toronto, March 23) This afternoon the Greater Toronto Apartment Association, the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario, and senior representatives from eight of the City’s largest rental housing companies had a very informative and productive meeting with Mayor Tory, Deputy Mayor Bailão, Councillor Crawford and Councillor Thompson, to discuss the rental industry’s response to COVID-19.

While we are working with all governments on a national and provincial solution(s), we know that some of our residents are experiencing financial difficulty. If you are, please contact your property manager or landlord and advise them of your current conditions. Landlords will review each situation on a case-by-case basis and work with each resident on a plan.

Our members are committed to the health and well being of our residents. We will continue working with all stakeholders on a comprehensive program that will help our residents through this crisis.

Tony Irwin
FRPO President & CEO

Daryl Chong
GTAA President & CEO

Supporting tenants during the COVID-19 Crisis

(Toronto, March 18) – FRPO has been actively involved in discussions with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing as the Government tackles the many challenges associated with the COVID-19, including the continuity of residential tenancies. Our President and CEO Tony Irwin sent a letter to Minister Clark outlining a proposal to mitigate potential non-payment of rent due to an inability to obtain employment income or EI supports.

FRPO – Proposal to Support Tenants During COVID-19 Crisis

Keeping all Lines of Communication Open Between Landlords and Tenants During COVID-19

We’re now heading into the second week of social distancing, and it could stretch on for weeks or months. Millions of people are working from home. Landlords and rental property managers are working long hours as their tenants stay close to home, ensuring common areas are routinely sanitized and disinfected so that everyone residents, maintenance staff, delivery people alike remains safe from COVID-19.

This is definitely a stressful time for the sector. There is fear if tenants are requested to leave work, they’ll be unable to make rent. Thankfully, both the Ontario and federal governments are putting measures in place that will help assist tenants pay their rent. Ottawa has announced an emergency care benefit for self employed people, and a deferral of income tax owing until August 2020. It’s also expanded the eligibility for employment insurance. Landlords should do their best to ensure their tenants know about these initiatives.

Indeed, a key requirement for landlords during these uncertain and unsettling times is communication. Landlords value their relationships with their tenants, and it’s critically important right now to make efforts to keep all lines of communication open.

Providing regular updates as important information is released is recommended, to keep residents in the loop of all the steps being taken to reduce transmission of the virus. This might mean letting your residents know, what extra efforts on-site cleaning staff are taking to ensure the property is following the Ontario Public Health’s recommendations for cleaning and disinfection plus any other additional measures being taken by all levels of governments to assist during this time.

It would also be helpful to try to keep residents abreast of any updated maintenance policies, and the need to review maintenance and repair requests in occupied units in order to reduce risk to tenants, staff and repair contractors. It is recommended that urgent repairs should take top priority, but others may need to be deferred for the time being in order to reduce any chance of exposure.

Landlords may also want to advise their residents that they’ll be working with them to ensure their housing is secure. These are difficult times, and this could just be the beginning. It has always been important for landlord-tenant relationships to be based on trust and mutual respect. But never more so than right now.

Landlords need to be hyper-vigilant in the COVID-19 pandemic

We’re in the midst of a global pandemic, an urgent situation that’s requiring all of us to dramatically alter the way we live and work. The Ontario government has declared a state of emergency, and recreation centres, libraries, private schools, daycares, churches, bars and restaurants have been closed down. The federal government has announced Canada is closing its border to most foreign travellers.

It’s all aimed at doing whatever it takes to protect our citizens.

Landlords have a major role to play as well in these widespread efforts to contain COVID-19.

Rental property owners have a legal duty of care to tenants. With many people now working from home, it’s more critical than ever that landlords take the utmost care to maintain safe, clean rental units and residential properties.

That means more frequent cleaning of areas where lots of people converge, including lobbies and laundry rooms, with disinfectant products. Placing alcohol-based hand sanitizers in common areas is also a smart idea.

Rental property owners should also keep tenants well-apprised and informed of the latest coronavirus developments. Notices should be posted at building entrances, on tenant notification boards and in common areas providing the latest updates on the situation, including guidance from local public health authorities. If property owners have a list containing the email addresses of all their tenants, they should be sending regular updates via email as well.

If there is a presumed or confirmed case of COVID-19 in any rental property, local public health authorities should be immediately notified, and any medical directions they provide should be followed diligently. But due to privacy laws, landlords should not identify by name anyone in the building who’s been infected to other tenants. Landlord BC, in fact, says only general information should be shared, such as “there is a confirmed case on the second floor” to protect the privacy of the affected individual. It’s the role of public health authorities to reach out to any other tenants in the building who may have come into contact with the infected person.

And of course, landlords and tenants alike should follow these instructions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid shaking hands and instead use another form of greeting/acknowledgment
• Stay home if you’re sick
• When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth with tissues or your arm
• Dispose of any used tissues immediately, and wash your hands
• Routinely clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• Avoid travelling abroad
• Avoid visiting hospitals or long-term care facilities if you’re unwell
• If you’re in Toronto or Ottawa, and you’ve travelled outside of Canada, including the United States, self-isolate and avoid contact with others for 14 days after arriving back in the city

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Events Update

The staff and Board of Directors at FRPO are deeply committed to the health & safety of our members and those we serve in the rental housing industry. We share in the increasing global concern about COVID-19. 

Therefore we have decided to postpone the following events until further notice.

– Future of Submetering Webinar

– Spring Social 

– Spring Hope Food Drive  

RTA Seminars – We are currently looking at alternative formats to deliver these important educational sessions and will provide an update in the coming days.  

As this situation continues to evolve, please be assured that we will be constantly reassessing and adapting our processes to adhere to the latest updates and health guidelines.

Please note: the FRPO office has been closed until further notice, all staff are working remotely and are available via phone and e-mail.

Congratulations to the 2019 FRPO MAC Award Winners

Thank you to the over 1,200 guests that attended this event held on Thursday, December 5th at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. The MAC Awards celebrate innovation, commitment to quality and everything that goes into promoting the brand of rental housing. Each year our members continue to raise the bar and this year was no exception.  

We are pleased to announce this year’s winners and offer our sincere congratulations.

Lifetime Achievement Recipient
A. Britton Smith, Homestead Land Holdings Limited

Best Property Management Website
Rhapsody Property Management Services in Partnership with Riocan Living
www.ecentralliving.com

Advertising Excellence for a Single Campaign
Hollyburn Properties Limited – #MyHollyburn

Advertising Excellence – Social Media
Hollyburn Properties Limited

Best Lobby Renovation
Starlight Investments – 1475 Bloor Street, Mississauga

Best Curb Appeal
DMS Property Management – 145 Wellington St West, Aurora

Best Suite Renovation under $20,000
QuadReal Property Group – 6550 Glen Erin Drive, Mississauga

Best Suite Renovation over $20,000
Minto Apartments – 61 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto

Rental Development of the Year
Tricon Capital Group and OP Trust – The Selby: 25 Selby Street, Toronto

Amenities Excellence
Rhapsody Property Management Services – 25 Montgomery Avenue, Toronto

Outstanding Community Service
Greenrock Real Estate Advisors

Environmental Excellence
Sifton Properties Limited

Leasing Professional of the Year
Laura Bkhet – MetCap Living

Property Manager of the Year
Gemma Melchior – Melchior Management 777 Corporation

Resident Manager of the Year
Laura McNabb- Skyline Living

Customer Service Award of Excellence
Oxford Properties Group

Company Culture Award of Excellence
Greenrock Real Estate Advisors

Marvin Sadowski Memorial Award for Certified Rental Building Member of the Year
Melchior Management 777 Corporation

Check out this RHB “Out and About” Segment featuring our 2019 Gala!