Kitchener renoviction bylaw one step closer to reality
Posted Mar 31, 2026 05:27:11 AM.
Last Updated Mar 31, 2026 10:44:37 AM.
Councillors took another step forward for a potential renoviction bylaw in Kitchener.
They discussed the details of the bylaw at the committee level for several hours on Monday. It was ultimately passed by a 5-3 vote, now moving on for potential final approval at council.
One of the details under the microscope is making sure the bylaw doesn’t overstep what the province already provides.
The cost of the bylaw is also a focus for some, including Cambridge Councillor Helen Shwery, who appeared as a delegate before her Kitchener colleagues.
Shwery said the one-time start up cost of $100,000, and annual cost of $200,000 is just too high.
“You can’t regulate bad people, and right now, if something happens and you have a bad landlord, go and call the Landlord and Tenant Board. Just like if someone breaks into your house, go and call the police. There is a body to oversee that.”
Housing advocates, however, said the bylaw is needed to better protect tenants from bad-faith landlords.
The Waterloo Region Chapter of ACORN organized a rally outside city hall as councillors met on Monday.
Ken Vogelpohl is the co-chair of the Waterloo Region Chapter. He spoke with 570 NewsRadio before the meeting.
“There are a couple of important points that we think are still missing, but to be honest, we are pretty happy. We just would like to see a full bylaw instead of just a partially completed bylaw.”
Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic noted they have heard a lot of “passionate, difficult stories” while discussions have been underway.
“There is no question in my mind that this has been a very complex and difficult issue for us to deal with because it is one that is charting some new territory in terms of the role of municipalities number one. Number two, it is getting into an area that has historically not been part of the responsibility of municipalities.”
The conversation isn’t over yet.
The bylaw now moves to full council in April, along with an amendment presented by Councillor Debbie Chapman regarding more options for tenants after renovations happen, such as compensation or alternate accommodations provided by landlords.
