14 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday August 17, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Town delays lodging house bylaw until January By Kim Arnott SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Beginning in January, homeowners looking to rent out a room to a Sheridan College student will need to obtain a yearly $200 license from the Town. On Monday night, town councillors approved a new bylaw to regulate lodging houses. However, with thousands of students due to head into town on a search for housing over the coming weeks, councillors agreed to delay the implementation until the beginning of 2008. The new rules will require anyone operating a lodging home basically a home where tenants share bathroom and kitchen facilities to meet a number of safety conditions. In order to qualify for the required license, applicants will 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 will "We certainly don't allow any parking issues or noise. And we don't allow any fire issues. We're living in the house and we certainly don't want it burning down around our ears." Landlord Paul Redvers also have to provide the Town with a police clearance and an up-to-date fire safety plan. The Town's current rules allow no more than three boarders in any home, and the new bylaw will continue to enforce that limit. But while Town councillors suggested the bylaw would protect the safety of tenants, some landlords see it as little more than a tax grab. Paul Redvers, who rents rooms to Sheridan College students during the school year and Spanish students during the summer, told council there's no need to regulate homes that have owners living in them. "We certainly don't allow any HDTV without ExpressVu is like Spock without Kirk. Get the Full HD experience, only with ExpressVuTM HDTV from Bell. 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I provide them with everything." Town staff is researching the possibility of creating a second class of licenses to cover homes with more than three students, but say the zoning by-law changes required will need to be thoroughly reviewed. Jim Barry, who supervises bylaw enforcement for the Town, says the bylaw will make it easier for the Town to prosecute landlords violating the rules. 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. The licensing requirement will 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. Several town councillors, as well as landlords, noted that the bylaw's introduction during the summer period may have been responsible for the relatively few public remarks received by the town during the month-long comment period. Over the coming four months, the Town will continue to seek public input on the licensing requirements. The new bylaw specifically excludes group homes, nursing homes, hotels and medical treatment facilities. Homeowners collecting rent from adult children living with them will also not be required to obtain a license. Bonus: $10 Pay Per View credit3 BERTIN STABLES Summer Lessons and Camps · Weekday Lessons 4/$107 or $35/Lesson · Saturday at Farm 10am-3pm $40 (Children 5-12 yrs.) NOW BOOKING 4 (905) 827-4678 www.bertinstables.com 1 888 ORDERTV Available at Bell stores and the following retailers: bell.ca Keith's Stereo Offer ends September 30, 2007. Available to residential clients, where access and line of sight permit. 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