Proposed Waterloo

Lodging Houses Are Good For Waterloo by Gweneth Minaker Rental Licensing Revision

Lodging Houses Are

Good For Waterloo

Written by: Gweneth Minaker

http://homesonregina.tripod.com/

BENJAMIN BACH
KW Commercial, a division of Keller Williams Golden Triangle Realty Inc., Brokerage | 9-871 Victoria Street North, Kitchener Ontario N2B 3S4 | 519-570-4447
Independently owned & operated. This information is for research purposes only, is not legal advice and is solely Gweneth Minaker’s opinion. This information is not
warranted by Benjamin Bach or the Brokerage, & is subject to errors, omissions, corrections, or changes without notice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.
 Proposed Waterloo
2 Lodging Houses Are Good For Waterloo by Gweneth Minaker Rental Licensing Revision

LODGING HOUSES ARE GOOD FOR WATERLOO!

 The University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University, and Conestoga

College are the economic powerhouses of Waterloo. Lodging houses
have historically provided more affordable housing for students than
apartment-style options or student residences, thereby making it possi-
ble for more students to choose to study in Waterloo rather than other
cities. If fewer students choose Waterloo institutions because
of a lack of affordable off-campus housing, all will suffer. The
cost of higher education is very daunting for many students, and many
of them need affordable housing options. Lodging house options are a
very important part of the total picture.
 With so many proposed restrictions, it appears the intent of the pro-
posed changes is to eventually demolish the historical inventory of
lodging houses and replace them with high-rise apartment build-
ings. Many students prefer a more home-like setting. Many
area residents prefer more home-like neighbourhoods rather
than living next to rows of student apartment buildings.
 The cost of the proposed new regulations will force existing
lodging-house landlords to raise rents for students, thereby
making the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier, and Conestoga Col-
lege less affordable places for students to study. At present, more than
20,000 students live in houses, perhaps because they deem student
apartments to be overcrowded, noisy, inconvenient, costly, and/or im-
personal. The effect of the by-law would be to provide fewer housing
alternatives to all students.
 The proposed by-laws will force lodging-house operators out
of business because of all of the new restrictions and higher regula-
tory fees. They will not be able to earn sufficient returns on their in-
vestments with a reduced number of rooms per house. This could re-
sult in either many abandoned homes or rows of apartment buildings.
These would not be attractive to Waterloo residents or students and
would have a depressing effect of the real estate market.

BENJAMIN BACH
KW Commercial, a division of Keller Williams Golden Triangle Realty Inc., Brokerage | 9-871 Victoria Street North, Kitchener Ontario N2B 3S4 | 519-570-4447
Independently owned & operated. This information is for research purposes only, is not legal advice and is solely Gweneth Minaker’s opinion. This information is not
warranted by Benjamin Bach or the Brokerage, & is subject to errors, omissions, corrections, or changes without notice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.
 Proposed Waterloo
3 Lodging Houses Are Good For Waterloo by Gweneth Minaker Rental Licensing Revision

LODGING HOUSES ARE GOOD FOR WATERLOO!

 Most licensed student homes are well-maintained and most students’ behaviours
do not interfere with the quality of life of neighbours. Forcing students to live
in apartments will not prevent student drunkenness, parking offenses,
brawls, and vandalism, which have unfairly been attributed dispropor-
tionately to lodging houses. It could be easily argued that living en masse cre-
ates more tension and bravado. For instance, malicious fire alarms are a continuing
problem in all apartments which creates a public nuisance, danger as firefighters
respond to false alarms, and expense to the City. Student offenses could be elimi-
nated through vigilant by-law enforcement.
 Small-scale landlords support many local businesses not patronized by
corporate apartment owners (e.g., landscapers, snow clearance firms, inde-
pendent trades people, small construction firms, local banks, property management
companies, house-cleaners, appliance and other retail stores). Upheaval in the
lodging house market will have a ripple effect on these other local business people.
 Devaluing current properties by approximately 25% (4 bedroom), 40% (5 bed-
room), 50% (6 bedroom) or more will decrease the tax base. In response, City
Hall will be forced to raise the mill rate. Regular homeowners will see
their property taxes go up, as landlords carry less of the tax bur-
den. Abandoned and depreciated houses will erode the tax base, and the shift of
the financial burden to other taxpayers will lead to complaints and resistance.
 Municipalities who have attempted to pass by-laws far less prohibitive than those
proposed by Waterloo have been plunged into costly and time-consuming
litigation. By-laws have been reversed by the courts and issues elsewhere are
still not resolved. When City Hall is embroiled in bitter controversies, less energy
can be devoted to ways which will improve the local economy and quality of life on
Waterloo.
 Students should enjoy quality-of-life during their university years so that they
will want to stay in the community post-graduation, providing talent and
energy within the Technology Triangle.

The approach of limiting bedrooms per rental unit may be problematic for
larger families seeking rental accommodation. The report states that approxi-
mately 25% of family households looking for Community Housing are seeking 3+ bed-
rooms. A Zoning By-law that puts restrictions on number of bedrooms and bathrooms
will further reduce the supply of this already hard to find accommodation.

BENJAMIN BACH
KW Commercial, a division of Keller Williams Golden Triangle Realty Inc., Brokerage | 9-871 Victoria Street North, Kitchener Ontario N2B 3S4 | 519-570-4447
Independently owned & operated. This information is for research purposes only, is not legal advice and is solely Gweneth Minaker’s opinion. This information is not
warranted by Benjamin Bach or the Brokerage, & is subject to errors, omissions, corrections, or changes without notice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.