In an update on December 1, 2025, the attempt by Coun. David Ferreira to enhance the existing bylaw was unsuccessful at the committee stage. Councillors Ferreira and Sam Trosow supported the proposal for stricter regulations, while councillors Jerry Pribil and Elizabeth Peloza opposed the idea.
A resident of London facing potential eviction emphasized the need for the city to offer more support to tenants in situations where landlords seek to evict them for renovation purposes. Meanwhile, a city council member is advocating for the closure of a loophole in a bylaw designed to prevent unjust evictions of tenants.
Expressing his concerns, 63-year-old Darcy Barnes, a long-time resident of an apartment on Adelaide Street South, called for increased protection for tenants, stating that the uncertainty of eviction has disrupted his normal life. Barnes suspects his landlord of attempting to evict him under the guise of demolishing the building, a claim denied by landlord Sean Wilson who cited substantial repairs required for the aging structure.
Wilson explained that the building lacks compliance with safety codes, necessitating extensive renovations amounting to nearly $400,000 to convert it into a two-unit property. Barnes initially received an N-13 notice, a legally mandated form notifying tenants of the landlord’s intention to carry out significant repairs, renovations, or convert the unit for non-residential use. Subsequently, Wilson submitted a different notice to the city, indicating demolition as the reason for eviction.
The current regulations mandate landlords to pay $600 every six months for a residential rental repair license when issuing an N-13 notice for renovation-based evictions. Ward 13 Coun. David Ferreira aims to address this loophole by proposing an extension of the bylaw to include demolitions and non-residential conversions under the rental repair license requirement.
Ferreira stressed the importance of protecting tenants by closing this gap in the legislation to prevent homelessness before it occurs. The proposed change aims to counteract “demovictions,” a practice where landlords exploit legal loopholes to evict tenants.
The debate on this issue is scheduled for Monday, with contrasting views from the London Property Management Association and the local tenant advocacy group, London ACORN. The association believes the existing bylaw strikes a balance, while acknowledging Ferreira’s intentions. Conversely, London ACORN supports Ferreira’s proposal, highlighting the prevalence of demovictions in the city.