www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday June 29, 2007 - 13 Town plans to tighten boarding house regulations By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SUMMER SALE CONTINUES NOW About 14,000 full-time students spend their days at Sheridan College every year. However, there's only space for 343 of them to spend their nights on campus. That leaves thousands to look for other places to live, with many of them opting to rent a bedroom in a shared home. Although Oakville's current rules allow no more than three boarders in any home, the rules are often violated, and are hard to enforce, admit Town staff. With that in mind, the Town is considering requiring all lodging homes basically houses where tenants share kitchen and bathroom facilities to obtain a yearly $200 license. In order to qualify for the license, applicants would have to show the home complies with town zoning bylaws, carries at least $2 million in liability insurance, and has safe electrical wiring and heating systems. The applicant or homeowner would also have to provide the Town with a police clearance and an up-to-date fire safety plan. Homes would still be capped at a maximum of three lodgers, although the proposed bylaw specifically excludes group homes, nursing homes, hotels and medical treatment facilities. Along with ensuring that homes are safe for lodgers, the licensing system would make it much easier for the town to prosecute those violating the rules, said Jim Barry, who supervises bylaw enforcement for the town. It's currently difficult for bylaw enforcement officers to collect enough evidence to convince a court beyond a reasonable doubt that more than three tenants live in a home, said Barry. "Since investigations and successful prosecutions of charges lead the students to being left to look for appropriate housing in the middle of the school year, there is no motivation on behalf of the students living in these homes to cooperate with bylaw enforcement," he noted in a report presented to the town's Administrative Services committee on Tuesday night. "This often serves to frustrate neighbours directly adjacent to these student houses, who are typically the source of the complaints," he added. If approved, the licensing requirement would allow the Town to charge property owners with operating an unlicensed lodging home a charge Barry says would likely be easier to prove, as the Town would only have to show that one lodger was living in the house. Barry added that Sheridan College has said it would support regulation of student housing, and could help publicize the licensing requirements and ensure students are living in appropriate housing at the beginning of the school year. A final decision on the issue will be made at a meeting of the full Town Council on Aug. 13. $ 89 REG. WOMENS 99 124.95 WOMENS Snail I R O N LU S T R E Darling B L AC K O R W H I T E K I D 1 WEEK ONLY (WHILE QUANTITIES LAST) sale starts june 29th. ends july 6th. selection may vary by store. W W W. F R E E D M A N S H O E S . C O M NOW OPEN O A K V I L L E P L A C E 240 Leighland Ave. Telephone: 905-842-3418 Monday, July 2, 2007 O tello's Banquet Hall 2273 Royal Windsor Drive, Oakville, Ontario Preview: 12:00 NOON · Auction: 1:00 PM · 3 Piece Sofa Sets and Sectionals in many designer colours, Italian Leathers to Designer Fabrics · Oak, Mahogany and Cherrywood 9 piece Dining Room Suites, some with matching Buffets and Hutches · 8 Piece Bedroom Suites, including European Designs · Huge selection of Classical Style Hall Mirrors · Hand Carved Fern Stands · Bathroom vanities with Sink · Quality Mattress and Box Springs Sets in double, queen or king, from the highest quality Memory Foam and Pillow Top to Economical Sets · Top quality 72 Pc. Flatware Sets · 10 pc. counter height dinette set (variety of finishes) · Bombay Chest · Bronze · Wall Clocks · Curio Stands · Electronics · Lamps Subject to additions · Limited Edition and deletions. 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