Form, policies, and tenant insurance

Air conditioner policy

Window air conditioner units are not permitted at Peel Living buildings. Use portable air conditioners instead. This policy improves safety as window air conditioner units pose a risk of falling.

Smoke-free policy

The smoke-free policy is a comprehensive strategy which will protect tenants, visitors, and staff from involuntary exposure to second-hand smoke and related health risks. It prohibits smoking in residential units (including patios, balconies, backyards and front lawns) that have leases effective on or after November 1, 2018.

Tenants and visitors entering a no-smoking unit will have to leave the unit to smoke. Smoking will be permitted in spaces that are not regulated under the proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 or the Peel Outdoor Smoking By-law, 2013.

Products that fall under Smoke-Free Living policy

Lit tobacco, lit herbal material (e.g. shisha) and lit cannabis (i.e. marijuana, weed) will be prohibited. Vaping is permitted and is not included in this policy because there is less evidence to suggest that the second-hand aerosols from vapour products travel from unit to unit in the same way that smoke does.

Buildings this policy applies to

The policy applies to new leases effective on or after November 1, 2018. Also note that Peel Living shelters, group homes and mobile homes are not included in this policy. The shelters and group homes are already smoke-free under provincial legislation and mobile homes are not included in this policy because they are not Multi-Unit Housing buildings.

Enforcement

Tenants can make complaints in writing and the housing provider will follow-up with the complainant. It is not usually necessary to legally enforce a smoke-free policy, but Canadian court tribunal decisions have shown support for smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing.

Tenants who smoke

Tenants who smoke can still live in buildings that have a no-smoking policy. Smoking will be permitted outside of the unit, in areas that are not regulated by the Peel Outdoor Smoking By-law, 2013 or the proposed Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017. People who smoke may choose to quit or reduce their smoking, while some may choose to use aids to help them stay smoke-free in their homes, such as using nicotine replacement therapy (i.e., the patch or gum).

Smoking in your own apartment

From a legal perspective, there is no statement in the Human Rights Code or Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms asserting that there is an absolute right to smoke. You do not have the right to expose others in the building to the risks associated with smoking. There are Canadian cases where landlords have been taken to court for their smoke-free policies, and court tribunal decisions have upheld the policies.

Providers can ban smoking in private rental units

Housing providers legally have the right to put policies in place to protect the health and safety of all residents and to protect their property. Implementing a no-smoking policy is similar to creating other policies, such as noise restrictions.

How providers ensure can compliance

With the duty to accommodate sometimes it's necessary to treat someone differently to prevent or reduce discrimination when implementing smoking bans. To comply, housing providers will accommodate tenants by considering policy exemptions. If a tenant's accommodation would cause undue hardship, a second-best measure would then occur (e.g., offering smoking cessation support).

Available support

• Find support for quitting or reducing your smoking
• Contact Smokers Helpline or by texting 123456 to iQuit.

Cannabis use

Cannabis is also known as marijuana or weed. Exemptions for the medical use of cannabis will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If you require an exemption, you must maintain a valid Authorization to Possess Marijuana from Health Canada and provide this authorization to Peel Housing Corporation. You must also provide medical documentation (e.g. doctor's note) stating that you must smoke cannabis (i.e. you cannot use cannabis in another way, like vaping or eating) and you are medically advised against leaving your unit to smoke. If you are interested in an exemption, please speak with your TSA.

Any appeals would be made to the Landlord and Tenant Board. You can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board toll free, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1-888-332-3234.

For cultivation of medical cannabis, several conditions are set out by the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). Individuals must:

• Be authorized by their health care practitioner.
• Register with Health Canada to produce a limited amount of cannabis for their own medical purposes.
• Only start producing cannabis plants upon receipt of a Health Canada registration certificate.
• Operate within the limits set out in the registration certificate, and abide by the maximum plant limit, maximum storage limit and maximum possession limit.
• Comply with all relevant provincial/territorial and municipal laws including local bylaws about zoning, electrical safety, fire safety, together with all related inspection and remediation requirements.

The number of plants allowed is calculated by the number of grams of cannabis the physician determines is necessary for treatment (e.g. 3 grams/day = 15 plants). Health Canada states the average is between 1 to 3 grams per day.

Cultivation of recreational cannabis is set to become legal on October 17, 2018. The provincial legislation for cannabis (medical and recreational) has not yet been passed. It is proposed to allow up to 4 plants for cultivation of recreational cannabis.

Tenant insurance is mandatory as part of your Peel Living lease.

Accidents happen. When an incident like a flood or fire happen, tenant insurance can protect your belongings and immediate personal needs.

Insurance can cover additional living expenses and help with temporary accommodations.

As a landlord, we want to ensure that you have what you need in the event of an accident. The purpose of insurance is to protect you and your family from potentially expensive and unexpected events that may occur when we least expect them.

Even if an incident doesn’t happen in your unit, you can still be affected by others.

RGI tenants will be required to provide proof of insurance with their Tenant Annual Review package.

Proof of policy

• Policy insurance provider
• Policy insurance number
• Policy holder name
• Policy holder location
• Policy dates
• Liability amounts

A copy of the policy on insurance company letterhead, including a signature.

If you do not provide proof of tenant insurance your Peel Living tenancy may be impacted and could result in eviction if not remedied.

Cost of insurance

A typical insurance package can cost between $17 to 27 per month. That’s an annual fee in Ontario of approximately $326. This includes coverage of $20,000 to 30,000 for household items and up to $1 million for personal liability. Seniors or non-smokers may quality for a discount.

Additional information about tenant insurance

The Insurance Bureau of Canada can answer questions about tenant insurance, however they do not provide any quotes for insurance. For more information, email consumercentre@ibc.ca, or call 1-800-387-2880.

Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario is the self-regulatory body for insurance brokers in Ontario. They regulate the licensing, professional competence, ethical conduct, and insurance related financial obligations of all independent general insurance brokers in the province. Access brokerage listing.

Housing Services Corporation is a non-profit organization that works to ensure that Ontario residents have access to safe and affordable housing. They have an exclusive tenant insurance program. Call 1-866-940-5111 for more information.