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Industry Hot Topics Toronto issues health & safety policies for residential buildings
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he City of Toronto released official health and safety policies for operators of large residential buildings to protect residents against the spread of COVID-19. On March 29th, Mayor John Tory stressed the importance of practicing physical distancing in high rises—an often challenging feat. Councillor Josh Matlow echoed the sentiment for the rental sector. “It is impossible for renters to adopt lifesaving hygiene and social distancing practices if hand sanitizer isn’t accessible and elevators and common areas are crowded,” he said. “That’s why the City of Toronto is asking landlords to protect their tenants’ health by immediately implementing a COVID-19 action plan in their building.” Guidelines include: • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer or a hand washing station with soap and water should be placed at all building entrances. • Alcohol-based hand sanitizer should be available in all common areas that remain open, such as laundry rooms. • Close non-essential common areas such as bathrooms, gyms, playrooms, playgrounds and other high traffic areas. • Routine cleaning of frequently touched
surfaces in common areas, including doorknobs, elevator buttons, light switches, toilet handles, counters, hand rails, touch screen surfaces and keypads, with common household cleaners and disinfectants. • Organize the building to accept deliveries of essential goods, like medications, for residents to avoid non-essential trips outside. • Post signage limiting the number of residents allowed in common areas, including laundry rooms and elevators, to ensure that individuals are able to maintain a two-metre distance. Consider allowing a maximum of three residents at a time in elevators.
• When showing units or suites for sale or lease, practice physical distancing – keep a safe distance of two metres from the resident and wash hands with soap and water, and or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, before and after the visit. The city’s website is updated daily with the latest health advice and information about City services, social supports, and economic recovery measures. Check toronto.ca/covid-19 for answers to common questions before contacting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Hotline or 311.
Schedules for property tax payments in flux
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ate penalties for Toronto property tax, water and solid waste utility bills have been suspended until mid-May. For property owners who make tax payments on the city’s regular three-installment schedule, the April 1 due was pushed to June 1. Taxpayers registered for the 11-installment pre-authorized payment plan will see the interim 2020 due dates pushed back 60 days. Mississauga has added 90 days to the deadline for its two pending payment dates, pushing the April 2 installment date to July 2 and the May 7 due date to August 6. In other GTA cities, Oshawa is offering commercial, industrial and multi-residential ratepayers a grace period until June 30, waiving late fees and interest on payments coming due on April 27; Richmond Hill has waived penalties and interest on late property tax payments until further notice; and for now, Newmarket 28 | Canadian Apartment | Part of the REMI Network |
has suspended interest and late fees on all payments and has promised further details on potential tax deferral programs. Ratepayers qualifying for Ottawa’s program will have until June 18 for interim tax payments and October 30 for final tax payments — an extension from the original March 19 and June 18 deadlines. In addition to meeting the CVA criteria, ratepayers must currently have paid up-to-date tax accounts to take advantage of the program. Hamilton has thus far waived late penalties on property tax payments due April 30 for a 30 further days, but city staff is now reviewing other potential measures and will report to city council in early April. Other Ontario cities offering some form of property tax payment concessions include London, Kitchener, St. Catharines and Niagara Falls.
