Showing posts with label landlord-tenant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label landlord-tenant. Show all posts

Monday, March 10, 2014

Landlord and Tenant Property Insurance Reminder

This is a reminder for Tenant Property Insurance
 
Hello!
 
If you are an owner of a condominium townhouse or a high-rise condominium, you too want to make sure that your insurance on your investment property is active.  The reason you need insurance is because the tenants package only covers the tenants contents and the condo insurance typically only covers to middle of the exterior walls.  As an owner, you need insurance to cover your appliances, flooring, walls, drywall, cabinets, bathrooms etc. in the event of a loss.
 
Also, if your loss in your unit or property creates a loss in other units adjacent to your unit then you need insurance for that too.  This can get very expensive. 
 
If you are a tenant, you need to read this below! 
 
I recently heard that a small fire this past New Years' Eve in the bedroom of a condominium townhouse created a huge personal and financial loss for the tenant living in the property.  The reason for the loss was the tenants insurance policy had expired and the tenant did not renew the insurance for another year because the tenant wanted to save about $225. 
 
This tenant is now out of pocket over $25000, had to move somewhere temporary for 3 months which cost additional money and the tenant lost all her belongings and furniture due to this oversight!
 
This email is not meant to scare you, it's a friendly reminder for you. 
 
If you are a tenant you must confirm that your insurance policy is currently active and keep your tenants package for your personal property and legal liability insurance policy in full force and active.
 
If there is a fire or flood and you lose some or all of your belongings you need your own insurance coverage and policy.  Also, if you cause the fire or flood and if this loss creates damage or a loss in other units or properties adjacent to your unit or property then you need insurance for that too.  This can get very expensive. 
 
Please verify your insurance policy is active and that you have a tenants insurance package that covers your contents and at least $1million liability insurance that is current and active. 
 
Thank you, 
Mark
 
 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Real Estate Rental Market Update GTA and Mississauga 1st Quarter 2013

This is the latest report regarding rentals for the GTA in the first quarter of 2013

Number of rentals are up and so are average rental prices. see the full report below.



GTA REALTORS(r) RELEASE RENTAL MARKET REPORT

TORONTO, April 16, 2013 - Greater Toronto Area REALTORS(r) reported a substantial increase in the number of condominium apartments rented through the TorontoMLS system in the first quarter of 2013.

There were 4,277 condominium apartments rented - up by almost 13 per cent on a year-over-year basis.

The total number of rental properties listed on TorontoMLS during the first quarter was up by more than 25 per cent year-over-year to 8,816.

"Demand for rental condominium apartments remained strong during the first quarter of the year. People looking for higher end rental accommodation, including those who have temporarily put their decision to purchase on hold, were likely driving rental activity during the first three months of the year," said Toronto Real Estate Board President Ann Hannah.

The average monthly rent for one-bedroom condominium apartments in the first quarter was $1,597 - up by almost four per cent compared to Q1 2012. The average two-bedroom condominium apartment rent was up by slightly more than one per cent over the same period to $2,114.

"The rental market has remained quite tight over the last year. Competition between renters has been strong enough to drive increases in average rents.

However, growth in the number of units listed outstripped growth in the number of rental transactions in the first quarter, suggesting that renters benefitted from more choice. If this trend continues, the pace of rent growth could moderate," commented Jason Mercer, TREB's Senior Manager of Market Analysis.














I hope this finds you Happy and Healthy!

All the Best!

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987
BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829 CELL 416-520-1577
mark@mississauga4sale.com
Mississauga4Sale.com

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Friday, November 11, 2011

What happens if I want to break my lease?

I had a question from a tenant about breaking a lease and wanted to share my answer with you.

What happens if I want to break my lease?

The question was: I wanted to ask you what are the consequences to breaking the lease? I didn't see anything specific on the lease we have with the landlord and wanted to know.

Thanks

J

My answer was:
Hi J,

There are a few options available to you.

Typically, you can't break a lease, unless you and landlord agree to penalty which is typically 2 months rent. I've even seen more than this amount, but 2 months is typical. The reason for a penalty is that it causes much aggravation for the landlord plus the landlord needs to re-rent the unit and this typically costs the landlord one month rent plus 13% HST on the one month commission so the landlord needs to recover their costs to re-rent the unit.

The whole point of you signing a 1 year lease or longer is so that you have 'security of tenancy' meaning that you cannot be removed from the unit during the term of your lease (unless for something like a flood or fire or extreme emergency major renovation, but you still have first right to re-enter the unit once it's ready) AND your rent is fixed for the duration of the term. These are two very important points in your favour as a tenant.



There are many others, but these are the major reasons for a fixed term lease.


The other option to get out of your lease is to assign the lease to someone else who will live in the unit or for you to sublet the unit to someone else. If you find a tenant who wants to live in the unit for the balance of your lease and the landlord agrees to accept that new tenant (after a credit and reference check) then that person can move into your unit and the new tenant will pay the landlord, this is s sublet. You are still ultimately responsible for the rent payment if the person who sublets doesn't pay, but that doesn't happen too often.

If you assign your lease to another person and they move into your unit, then your lease is void and you are not responsible any time in the future.

If you leave in the middle of your lease, the landlord can easily take you to court, even if you don't attend court, they will obtain a judgment in favour of the rental amount and the landlord can serve that judgment on your place of work and garnish your wages. They can also lien your vehicle and other remedies, I'm not an expert, but these are some of the options available to the landlord.

If you absolutely must break your lease, the best course of action is to give plenty of notice, pay a penalty for breaking the lease early and move on OR stay to the end and give your proper notice.

I hope that this helps!

Please let me know if you have any other questions or require further information.

Thank you,

Mark

 

Thursday, March 03, 2011

Month to Month Leases Advantage or Disadvantage?

Sometimes landlords feel that they are in a disadvantaged situation when a tenant decides to change their lease from an annual term to a month to month term.

The only way that a landlord is 'disadvantaged' is that the tenant could give notice at any time during this year or the next 5 years and you have no recourse but to let them out of the lease.

Tenants do these types of things because they sometimes 'perceive' that this is a better deal for them in the event that they want to move or find something to purchase during the year, they are no longer locked into a 1 year term.

A Month to Month lease can often be a far better situation for the landlord because should you ever wish to move back into the property you do not have to wait until the end of the lease and only have to give 90 days notice and then tenant has to leave, by law. Or, at anytime you can now put the property up for sale and sell with a 90 day closing and again you do not have to wait until the end of the lease and the tenant has to move out, by law.

You are also in the same position as increasing the rent.

The Residential Tenancy Act is more in favour of the tenant and the tenants rights and security of tenancy is one of the key's to the Act. This means that when a tenant has a lease, they are secure in that lease, no matter what (except for major renovations and a few other unusual situations) and can stay in the property at least until the agreed to end of lease.

I have some information on my site:

http://www.mississauga4sale.com/Landlord-Tenant-Residental-Tenancy-Act.htm

and

http://www.mississauga4sale.com/Landlord-Tenant-Board-FAQ-2007.htm

You may browse to the government site to find http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/

and shows all the forms and information regarding the law for landlords and tenants

Please let me know if you have any other questions or require further information.

Thank you,

Mark

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Landlord Services Property Management Tenant Matters

You may require Landlord Services for Property Management of your investment property here in Mississauga. I can help you collect rent from Tenants, manage the property, pay bills, and legal action on your behalf against bad tenants

You may want to read about

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Do You need to get your Rental Property Rented? This is the place

Do You need to get your Rental Property Rented? This is the place


Do you have a rental property that you need help in finding a good quality tenant? I can help.

I am a real estate agent who specializes in helping owners like yourself in finding a good quality tenant who will take good care of your rental property and pay the rent!


For more information, please visit my website and read about my services to help you rent out your investment property or Send Mark an email .




A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Associate Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS Newsletter
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

(
BUS 905-828-3434 2 FAX 905-828-2829 ÈCELL 416-520-1577
E-MAIL : mailto:mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Would you like a Complimentary & Quick Over-The-Net Home Evaluation ?




If you have not already signed up to receive my monthly real estate newsletter, you may do so here: On-Line Real Estate Newsletter sign up

























Thursday, December 04, 2008

Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) in Ontario Summary and Explanation

I posted this page on my website last week, but thought it would be a good idea to blog about it.

This is an important issue when it comes to lanlord and tenant issues and The Residential Tenancies Act is now the law in Ontario.

Statutory law for residential tenancies in Ontario now comes under The Residential Tenancies Act (2006), replacing the Tenant Protection Act.

This new statute became effective on January 21, 2007

The major changes under the residential tenancies act (2006) effective January 31, 2007 are

  • The Landlord and Tenant Board is responsible for all matters regulated under the residential tenancies act, there is a local office here in Mississauga and Toronto
  • The landlord must give new tenants a pamphlet with information on the responsibilities of landlords and tenants, the role of the Landlord and the Tenant Board and contact details for the board. The pamphlet is available through the Landlord and Tenant Board or at this link: http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/graphics/249749.pdf
  • The landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for any justifiable increase in rent by more than the rent control guideline, if taxes, charges, or utilities have increased. If utility costs or taxes go down, the rent must also go down.
  • IF the rent increase application is for capital expenditures or security services, there is a limit or three percent above the guideline for a maximum of three years. Once the capital expenditure is fully paid for, the rent must go down for any tenants who were living there at the time of the increase.
  • At a hearing for a rental increase above the guideline, the board can decide to deny or delay the rent increase if there are serious outstanding maintenance issues for work orders on the property
  • The annual rent increase guideline is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the rate of inflations.
  • The rate of interest that a landlord must pay to a tenant on a last month's rent deposit every year is the same as the annual rent increase guideline and landlords can use the interest to top up the last month's rent to keep it current.
  • There is a shorter eviction process for tenants who cause wilful or excessive damage to a rental unit or building. This shorter process also applies to tenants who cause a disturbance in a small rental building where the landlord also resides. The notice period to the tenant is shortened to 10 days from the previous 20 days. Landlords can apply to the board for an eviction notice immediately after serving the notice.
  • Except for a notice for non-payment of rent, when a notice of termination has been served on the tenant, the landlord must apply to the board for an order terminating the tenancy not later than 30 days after the date specified in the notice of termination.
Even thought het Residential Tenancies Act has replaced the Tenant Protection Act, the bulk of the legislation regarding notice periods for termination remains unchanged.

You may find additional information regarding the Landlord and Tenant Board, all of their forms and information is available online at:

http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/index.html

You can read more about this at my website too:
http://www.mississauga4sale.com/Landlord-Tenant-Board-FAQ-2007.htm

This article above is shown at this page of my site:
http://www.mississauga4sale.com/Landlord-Tenant-Residental-Tenancy-Act.htm

Please email me if you have any further questions or require information.

Thank you,
Mark

Monday, November 24, 2008

Rules you must know when tenants currently occupy the unit we are selling

Landlord and Tenant Issues in Ontario

You will note that there are many important aspects and considerations when it comes to renting out properties. Other real estate agents often inquire regarding any important rules agents must know on listing or presenting a condo when tenants currently occupy the unit?

The short answer is yes. If a single tenant has lived in the condo since June 17, 1998, the condo owner can't evict the tenant and transfer ownership to a new owner. This is called Security of Tenure. Therefore, if you are interested in buying a condo and before you take a listing for a condo, or before showing a client a condo, it's crucial that you know whether the unit currently has tenants and when those tenants moved in.


Of course, a in all instances a landlord may informally request the tenant to leave, and the tenant may agree to do so or they may not leave. However, a landlord cannot require a tenant to agree to end a tenancy, or to sign, at the start of the tenancy, an agreement to end the tenancy at a later date, this is not legal. As well, in Ontario it is an offense for a landlord to illegally lock a tenant out of their rental unit or the building.

If a landlord is convicted in Provincial Court under the Provincial Offenses Act, they could be fined up to $25,000 if the landlord is an individual and 4 times that fine if the landlord is a corporation.

As well in Ontario, if the tenant finds out about Security of Tenure after they move out, they have up to a year to re-claim their tenancy in the condo. If the tenant won't leave or the landlord has to pay the tenant a settlement to leave, the agent is liable to be sued.

In all instances of the situations above, an agent can be held liable by the tenant and the Ontario government for not informing or misinforming the landlord client of the pertinent landlord/tenant laws.

You can learn more about Ontario landlord and tenant law and your responsibilities at my site at:

http://www.mississauga4sale.com/Landlord-Tenant-Board-FAQ-2007.htm

All the best,
Mark

Monday, October 27, 2008

blogger labels to create new blogger labels for future posts

this post is necessary to create more of my new blogger labelsToronto Real Estate Board (TREB) Average Prices and Graph

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino, Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc., Brokerage
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1

BUS. 905-828-3434
FAX. 905-828-2829
E-MAIL: mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Landlord and Tenants and the current rental marketplace

Good morning,

In light of the current economic crisis happening in the US and now in Canada, the rental market in Mississauga remains very tight. Most rental properties $1500 and under rent within a few days of being listed.

You are always safe when you have a rental property that is located near major amenities, such as The Erin Mills Town Centre or Square One or Heartland and one that shows well and is priced according to market rents. These properties tend to be the first ones that rent, everything else follows suit.

My experience also shows that similar to a property that is for sale, when a rental property shows well, it rents right away and at top value rent.

You cannot go wrong using an agent to list your property for rent. Reasons are many, but mainly because corporate relocation tenants and quality tenants all search rentals through the MLS and with an agent. Thus, if you are only trying to save a months rent by trying it yourself, you reduce your potential marketplace considerably. Quality tenants don't have time to scour the rental sections of the newspapers, they want everything online and my site and mls.ca provide this exposure for you.

Besides, how many agents do you know in Mississauga produce a virtual tour slideshow to market your rental property? Not many. Here is a recent example:
http://www.mississauga4sale.com/listings/5525-Palmerston-Crescent-Streetsville-GO.htm

If you need help with your rental property, please send me an email.

Thank you,
Mark

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Structuring & Negotiating Commercial Leases

These are details to Structuring & Negotiating Commercial Leases.

Topics covered include:
- Other parties involved: Guarantor, Lender, Title insurance company, Attorney
- Understanding the details of your business plans determines the lease
- Long term implications of your agreements
- The relationship with the landlord: advantages & disadvantages
- Premises, Expansions, & appurtenant rights
- Negotiating the expenses: rent, operating expenses, real estate taxes and percentage rent
- Maintenance obligations
- Avoiding double-counting: increases in basic rent and contributions toward the landlords operating expenses

Samples of the types of questions answered in the Video Leadership Seminar include:
- Beside the landlord and the tenant, what other parties may be involved in the lease?
- What are the most important business considerations for the tenant to keep in mind as it enters the lease negotiations?
- How can the lease negotiations be made most efficient and mostly likely to succeed?
- Which terms have the greatest liability exposure for the companies signing the lease?
- What calculations are used to assess financial terms of the lease? What results indicate a term should be avoided?
- What strategies and tactics are proven successful for each key area of the lease?

For more information please email me

Read more about:Homes for Sale

Thank you for reading my blog and if there is anything else I can help you with please don't hesitate to contact me,

Mark

A. Mark Argentino
P. Eng. Broker
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate


Thinking of Selling? Best Mortgage Rates Current Home Prices Search MLS
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.

Providing Full-Time Professional Real Estate Services since 1987

( BUS 905-828-3434
mark@mississauga4sale.com
8 Website : Mississauga4Sale.com

Homes for Sale

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

New Landlord and Tenant Rules in Ontario as of February 2007


New Residential Tenancy Rules Take Effect in Ontario

February 2, 2007 -- New rules regulating residential tenancies took effect on January 31, 2007. The new rules are a result of a provincial government initiative that began almost two years ago with consultations that included input from TREB.

TREB Input Achieved Results

When the provincial government began consultations on making changes to residential tenancy rules, one of the most significant changes proposed was with regard to rent control. The proposal considered eliminating the current system of vacancy de-control, which allows landlords to negotiate rent freely with a prospective tenant when dealing with a vacant unit. Once the tenant has agreed to a rent, they are then protected by the annual rent increase guideline, set by the provincial government, which stipulates how much the rent can be increased each year.

Given the high vacancy rates in recent years, TREB, and other groups, told the provincial government that the system of vacancy de-control was working, as intended, to improve availability and standards of rental accommodation. As a result of this input, the provincial government decided to maintain vacancy de-control.

New Rules

The new Residential Tenancies Act, which is now in effect, makes various changes to rules governing rents and landlord-tenant relationships. Some of the key changes include:

The annual rent increase guideline will be based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index, which will be the rate of inflation for the year running from June to May.
Landlords will be able to inspect rental units for maintenance problems, with 24 hours notice.
Landlords will have more remedies to deal with a tenant if he/she is causing willful and/or excessive damage in a rental unit or building. The new remedies will cut the eviction process approximately in half.
Improvements to processes under the Landlord and Tenant Board (formerly known as the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal)
Interest paid to tenants on last month’s rent deposit will be the same as the Consumer Price Index

More Information

Complete background information, including highlights of the new Residential Tenancies Act, is available at a special web site established by the provincial government.

Read more about Landlord and Tenant Investment Property Issues

For more information please contact A. Mark Argentino

A. Mark Argentino Associate Broker, P.Eng.,
Specializing in Residential & Investment Real Estate
RE/MAX Realty Specialists Inc.
2691 Credit Valley Road, Suite 101, Mississauga, Ontario L5M 7A1

BUS 905-828-3434
FAX 905-828-2829
E-MAIL mark@mississauga4sale.com
Website: Mississauga4Sale.com