New by-laws are being put in place to help prevent common issues with rental housing. The City’s Rental Housing Property Management By-law comes into force on Tuesday, August 31.The By-law outlines specific obligations for both landlords and tenants for rental property, with a focus on preventing common issues associated with rental housing. Although the Province regulates most aspects of the…
Adding a single, self-contained rental apartment to your home provides your family with an additional source of income and provides your community (or a member of your family) with another source of affordable housing. These apartments – technically called secondary dwelling units – are regulated by the Zoning By-law. You can visit Adding an Apartment – Secondary Dwelling…
On Wednesday, June 9th, City Council directed staff to develop a tax regime for a vacant unit tax program to be implemented in 2022, with billing to start in 2023. The tax would help increase Ottawa’s housing supply by encouraging homeowners to occupy or rent their properties. The revenue generated would be used to support…
On Tuesday, June 1st, the City’s Finance and Economic Development Committee received a preliminary framework for a vacant unit tax program, which would help increase Ottawa’s housing supply by encouraging homeowners to occupy or rent their properties. If adopted, owners of residential properties that are vacant more that 184 days per year would pay a…
On Wednesday, April 28, Council approved changes to the municipal housing benefit programs, which provides rent subsidies either directly to a landlord or as a housing allowance paid to a household. These programs are at capacity, and the approved changes will reallocate more than $2.3 million from other municipal housing programs and provincial funding programs,…
Ottawa – The City’s Community and Protective Services Committee today approved changes to municipal housing benefit programs, including updating City housing allowances to be consistent with current provincial programs and reallocating funding to support both existing households and anticipated growth. The programs provide financial stability for low-income households and help people experiencing homelessness access permanent,…
The Planning Committee meeting will be held jointly with the members of Community and Protective Services Committee to discuss a proposed by-law to regulate short-term rental of residential dwelling units across Ottawa. They will consider a related report at the same time, outlining some zoning amendments needed to put the by-law into effect. Watch or…
Ottawa – On Tuesday, March 2nd, the City’s Finance and Economic Development Committee and the Community and Protective Services Committee approved a long-range financial plan for housing at a special joint meeting. The Committees also approved a two-year work plan for the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The Committees approved the Housing Services Long Range Financial…
The City is looking for feedback from residents as it considers a residential Vacant Unit Tax, which would help the City fund more affordable housing. Go to engage.ottawa.ca/VUT to fill out the brief survey – it is quick and easy. The deadline is Wednesday, March 31. The Vacant Unit Tax is a secondary tax to…
On Thursday, February 4th, the City’s Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee heard that the City is moving to speed up timelines for projects that have a significant social impact, . The City aims to get affordable housing projects, long-term care facilities and retirement homes up and operating quickly by prioritizing these applications. The COVID-19 pandemic…