Province aims for faster co-op dispute resolutions

New legislation introduced April 16 by the province would make it easier to resolve disputes between residents and providers of co-op housing.

Currently, disputes must go through the courts, which can be costly and time consuming, according to a provincial news release.

Under the proposed legislation, co-ops would be able to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to resolve tenure disputes that are now covered by the Residential Tenancies Act.

Co-op providers and residents would have most of the same protections and benefits available to landlords and tenants, including access to mediation services.

“Co-operative housing providers play an important role in providing affordable housing to over 125,000 Ontarians,” Kathleen Wynne, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said. “This proposed legislation will help co-op members and providers reduce extensive legal fees and result in quicker resolutions.”

Moving co-op housing tenure disputes from the courts to the Landlord and Tenant Board would improve the speed and fairness of the process for co-ops and their members, Dale Reagan, managing director, Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, Ontario region, added.

“It would also serve the wider public interest by providing relief to the over-burdened court system and reduce public cost.”

Quick Facts:
- The legislation, if passed, would amend the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and the Co-operative Corporations Act.
- There are about 550 not-for-profit housing co-ops in Ontario with 44,000 households, representing almost 125,000 people.
- Non-profit co-ops have played a vital role in Ontario's affordable housing system since the 1970s.

Posted by Arron Pickard