My friend recently purchased a new home, only to find it occupied by tenants from the previous owner. Despite owning the property, he had no place to call home. It took him four months of paying rent and almost three additional months to complete eviction proceedings. This experience was not only financially draining but also caused significant mental stress for his family.

This is not an isolated incident; there are many other cases just like this one in Ontario due to current tenancy laws. Under existing legislation, when a residential property changes hands, any existing tenancies can continue under the new ownership. This loophole often leads to delays and unnecessary costs for new homeowners who must go through lengthy eviction processes if they wish their properties vacated.

We believe that this law needs amendment. The tenancy should end when ownership changes unless the new owners choose otherwise. The seller also needs to ensure that sufficient time (atleast 2-3 months) notice is provided aswell as a purchase agreement to the residing tenants so that they can find them a new place. The existing owners can present an N11, N12 (whichever appropriate) Ontario form to end the tenancy. By doing so, we can prevent undue hardship for homeowners while still protecting tenant rights where appropriate.

The Residential Tenancies Act (2006) was designed with good intentions - to protect tenants from sudden homelessness due to change in property ownership - but it has unintended consequences that need addressing now.

Let's stand together and advocate for fairer housing laws in Ontario that balance both tenant rights and homeowner rights effectively. Please sign this petition urging lawmakers in Ontario to amend the Residential Tenancies Act (2006) accordingly.