David Dworkin’s Post

How can co-ops respond to household changes? The Co-operative Housing Federation of BC has a webinar coming up on March 7 to answer questions about household composition changes from a legal perspective. Learn more and register: https://ow.ly/Bz6F50QzlRX

Hamilton sets a groundbreaking precedent in Ontario by introducing a bylaw to combat 'bad faith' renovictions, ensuring tenant rights and affordable housing are protected. These wins in advancing more equitable use of land come due to community member participation in the planning practice, and the considerate partnership of municipal planning staff and councillors. Major congrats to the City of Hamilton! Hoping to see similar practices spread across Ontario! How're they doing it? Soon landlords will be required to obtain a $715 renovation license within a week of issuing an eviction notice. Additionally, they must acquire all necessary building permits, provide an engineer's report to validate the need for vacancy, and arrange accommodations for tenants who wish to return. This effectively prohibits evictions for minor repairs or basic upgrades. Post-renovation, tenants have the right to return at the same rate. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/e_rs2dPR

A successful municipal partnership can mean an informed and engaged public, successful bond initiatives, and a trustworthy, dedicated PIO you can count on when the inevitable happens. Learn how our efforts have led other Oklahoma cities to success: https://lnkd.in/gxwq_BDc #citymanagement #citygovernment #localgov #government #publicinformation #publicsector #publicerelations #economicdevelopment

Hamilton leads as the first city in Ontario to enforce a renovictions bylaw, aiming to prevent 'bad faith' evictions, safeguard affordable housing and protect tenants from displacement. Landlords will need to apply for a $715 renovation license within seven days of issuing an eviction notice as well as secure all building permits, present an engineer's report justifying vacancy, and make arrangements for returning tenants. This also means that evicting tenants for basic repairs, or to perform a few simple upgrades will no longer be permitted. Post-renovation, tenants have the right to return at the same rate. https://lnkd.in/e_rs2dPR

In "The Future of Eviction Programs," in the latest Dispute Resolution Magazine, author Margaret Huang discusses RSI's recent outcome evaluation of New Hampshire's Eviction Diversion Program. RSI was asked to evaluate program use, mediation agreement rates, and the time from initial contact to case closure. The evaluation period ran from October 1, 2022, through August 31, 2023. Huang is ADR Coordinator at the New Hampshire Judicial Branch and worked closely with RSI for the research. She explains in the article: "This report captured a unique transition in time: federal emergency rental assistance was available to tenants and landlords through the end of 2022 and unavailable starting in 2023. Therefore, RSI was able to analyze how the end of rental assistance affected the program’s outcomes." Surprisingly, the end to rental assistance did not lead to a drop in agreements. The percentage of mediations ending in agreement rose from 68% before rental assistance ended to 72% afterward. However, the end of rental assistance did lead to a smaller proportion of agreements allowing tenants to stay in their homes. Huang notes: "RSI’s evaluation suggests that, while the end of rental assistance may impact the effectiveness of the program, eviction diversion programs can still substantially divert evictions by providing tenants and landlords with the opportunity to reach agreement."

NTD LIVE: Hearing on 'Examining the Failures of Status Quo Housing Policy': House Committee Watch the livestream here:

Have you booked for our December #HousingTrainingCourse 'Challenging housing decisions'? This course will address common problems and issues that Housing Rights advisers come up against when challenging housing decisions. It will give you the confidence and skills to help your client challenge negative housing decisions in the social rented sector. You will gain knowledge on the law supporting challenges to housing decisions. Book now👇 https://ow.ly/gcc850Q7u5Z

The Planning Act shifted how municipalities regulate residential units, and the proposed Official Plan update reflects these changes. Allowed in a principal building on a property with full services: up to 3 units including an accessory structure. Join the conversation on the impact of these changes on the community here: https://ow.ly/jFpN50PPJaQ

Explore the latest in social housing with our MSB Social Housing and Regeneration August 2023 highlight! 🏘️ From updates and news to crucial legal insights, it's all here. Stay informed: https://lnkd.in/ev3gs8XY

🏡 Our Housing System is Failing: It's Time for Action! 🚫 Read the eye-opening article at https://bit.ly/3sz2cFX to learn why we can't afford to wait for policy interventions any longer. Housing is a fundamental human right, and the current system is failing so many. This thought-provoking piece sheds light on the pressing issues and why we need to take matters into our own hands. https://bit.ly/3FMU5c2