Category Housing   Show all

• Rental Renovation (Renoviction) By-Law Survey

  

  

  
  

  Share your feedback about "Renovictions" in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent!

  A public survey is now open to gather input on experiences with evictions related to renovations or repairs in Chatham-Kent. Share experiences and feedback on possible regulatory approaches. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

  The information gathered will assist in the drafting a potential by-law that will be presented to municipal Council on June 24, 2026.

  Learn more and fill out the survey on Let's Talk Chatham-Kent.

  
  

  Background:

  What is a renoviction? Renoviction is a commonly used term describing situations where a landlord evicts a tenant to complete renovations and then re-rents the unit at a higher rate, without meeting the legal obligation to allow the original tenant to return. These cases often raise concerns that the landlord may be acting in bad faith and using the renovation as a pretext for an unlawful termination of the tenancy. However, not all such evictions involve bad faith. Rental properties may genuinely require significant repairs or upgrades after many years of use, and in some cases, completing these legitimate renovations may necessitate the temporary vacancy of the unit.

  What is a Rental Renovation By-law? A by-law that would require landlords (owner/operators of rental buildings) to apply for a Rental Renovation License before beginning any repair or renovation work that requires a building permit and a tenant to move out.

  At the February 9, 2026, Council meeting, administration was directed to consult with tenant advocacy groups, landlord representatives, housing experts, and municipalities that have already implemented a by-law relating to renovictions, as part of the development of a proposed by-law for Chatham-Kent.