A London landlord’s public comments that he’s a “profiteer” opposed to tougher rules to protect renters has riled city politicians who are leading the push for city hall to approve such a bylaw.
A London landlord’s public comments that he’s a “profiteer” opposed to tougher rules to protect renters has riled city politicians who are leading the push for city hall to approve such a bylaw.
At a public meeting at city hall over a proposed bylaw aimed at curbing bad-faith “renovictions,” among the speakers was Darren Keenan, who identified himself as a landlord and offered blunt remarks about his approach.
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“Housing is not a fundamental right in Canada. I’m a capitalist, and I’m a profiteer, and I like it,” he told politicians Monday, prompting shouts of shame from others in the gallery. “This bylaw that you want to pass is putting another cost on us.”
One politician who’s pushing for an even tougher bylaw than the one currently proposed by staff called the comments “callous” in an interview.
“The gentleman that said housing is not recognized as fundamental human right in Canada, well, that’s just wrong, because it is, and that’s not in dispute,” Coun. Sam Trosow said.
“I think there needs to be more nuance, because even though people are in it to make money, they have to understand that they’re . . . providing people with something like housing, that is an absolute essential of life.”
“Adequate housing” is recognized as a fundamental human right in Canada, in line with international law, according to the National Housing Strategy Act, which received royal assent in 2019.
In an interview, Keenan doubled-down on his remarks and fired back at Trosow’s “callous” comment.
“Raising property taxes . . . that’s callous. Raising salaries of council members when you’re supposed to undertake such work for the betterment of the city through an altruistic attitude, that’s callous,” Keenan said.
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“I’m not social housing. That’s not my function, I’m not a charity. I invest money in my property, I renovate my property, I provide a service. They (tenants) sign a legally binding contract. It’s a service that is provided. It provides a nice income for my wife, for my children, and for myself.”
The public meeting was held as city hall considers whether to crack down on bad-faith N13 evictions, or notices that tenants must vacate their unit for the purpose of repairs or renovations – dubbed “renovictions” by critics.
Tenants have the right to return to their unit at the same rent once the work is complete, but critics charge many are forced to find a new home as the work drags on – and the landlord can then re-list the rental unit and charge the new tenant market rent, which may mark a huge increase.
The bylaw currently calls for three steps to curb renovictions:
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Politicians have endorsed having city staff add other elements – including that landlords must give ousted tenants alternate accommodations or financial help. That direction must still be approved by full city council.
Ward 1 Coun. Hadleigh McAlister, a renter himself, attended the public meeting. He said landlords “need to step up” to help ease the housing crunch, noting many low-income Londoners have little chance to move up the “property ladder” to eventual ownership.
Keenan was not alone in speaking out against the proposed ‘renoviction’ bylaw at the public meeting. In an interview, he agreed renovictions are an issue but bristled at any suggestions landlords are to blame.
“Let the government build more social housing, but don’t put the burden on landlords,” he said. “They’ve already demonized us across the country, blaming us for this housing crisis, and once again, we didn’t create it.”
The final version of the proposed bylaw could be back before politicians in September and, if approved, would take effect in 2025, staff say.
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