Tenants in Cambridge may soon be forced to pay water bills

Cambridge City Council moved a motion yesterday that raises the question about who should be footing the water bill in the city: Landlords or tenants?

A group of delegates full of landlords spoke to council about the lack of fairness in accruing the costs from a utility used by tenants.

In 2015, the previous council made the decision to transfer the bill over to landlords, which kept the city or taxpayers from having to foot the water bill when a tenant doesn’t pay.

Kayla Andrade, a landlord who created the Ontario Landlords Watch Group after the decision, told council the policy has raised significant concerns.

“Today this council has a unique opportunity to revisit a policy that had a significant, enduring impact on the affordable housing tenants, and private housing providers since it has been implemented,” she said.

“Moving forward, its essential for policy to be fair and equitable to ensure the responsibility aligns with the respective rules and obligations. The start of this policy had led to a sea of challenges for landlords. The tenants who have left water taps running without regard resulting in financial consequences,” said Andrade.

Local landlord, Lillo Ognibene told council the motion is about fairness more than anything.

“The motion on the table tonight revolves around an issue that affects not only landlords and tenants but also the entire community. Currently, the water billing model in Cambridge places the burden of unpaid water squarely on the shoulder of landlords and property owners.”

“As we have witnessed, the model has its shortcomings: Let us consider for a moment the principle of fairness — should the responsibility for paying water bills not rest solely on the shoulders of the individuals that consume the water?”

The motion was voted in 7-2, the only councillors withstanding were Coun. Scott Hamilton and Coun. Ross Earnshaw.

City staff are now directed to create a report to come back to council that goes over the change in water billing payments, and whether or not tenants should be footing the bill.