TORONTONIAN TENANTS’ ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Volume 3, No. 1 Thursday, June 25, 2020
Dear TTA Members,
The last few months have been trying: isolation; working from home; parents becoming teachers; protecting ourselves when out of our units; and financial worries for many.
No membership fees for 2020–2021!
So as not to increase the financial burden we have decided that paid-up Members for 2019-2020 will remain members for no additional fee for 2020-2021. We have enough funds to date to contest the AGI for the balconies when it comes before the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). This is months away if not years as the LTB has not even reopened yet. And there will be a backlog of eviction notices from many landlords when the board resumes as these cases take precedence over AGI cases.
Pending AGI on the balconies: As for the Above-Guideline Increase that you will see on your rent at renewal time, you do not have to pay it until the LTB has made a decision. So you do not have to pay that increase yet. However, the increase will accumulate and that eventually, you will have to pay it retroactively to your renewal date starting with those on April 1, 2020, at whatever amount the LTB approves.
COVID and paying your rent: If you are having financial difficulties paying your rent, let Shiplake know at: residenthelp@shiplake.com. Shiplake and you will come to an arrangement that works for you both.
Future of the Executive group: The TTA Executive has been reduced in numbers. Our Treasurer, Graeme Adams, has moved out. Others have stepped down. When conditions permit and we adjust to the new normal, we will arrange an AGM so members can elect new people to continue the Association’s work.
In the meantime, we will continue to
- monitor our Gmail account, torontoniancommunications@gmail.com;
- send you Newsletters as needed with any specific news; and
- hold regular bi-monthly meetings with Shiplake (Kurt and Katherine), on Zoom.
The Minutes of the TTA-Shiplake meetings on March 5 and June 16 will be on the TTA website shortly.
New and improved TTA Website!: A few months ago, our website was thoroughly revamped! Now it is much cleaner and easier to navigate. We are very grateful to member Arnab Majumdar who has volunteered to take on this task.
Browse 45dunfieldta.org for our new look!
Construction staging area on Dunfield Avenue: Recently we notified Members about the development underway on the west side of Dunfield Avenue. The developer was asking approval from the City to set up a Construction Staging Area directly across from our front driveway for 40 months. The TTA and individual members sent comments and protests to the Toronto and East York Community Council and to our Councillor Josh Matlow asking that this approval be denied.
The request for the full 40 months was turned down. But it has been approved for 1 year with the requirement that “the applicant review options with the Construction Hub Coordinator to decrease the construction staging area as it is being approved through this decision, and present a new proposal to Community Council upon the 12 month approval expiry” (emphasis ours). The TTA is in contact with Josh Matlow’s office about what this will mean for us and what our options are. We will let you know when we have any further news.
(Re)opening of common amenities: All tenants want to know when the various amenities (party rooms, pool, and gym) will be open. Shiplake is already planning on how to introduce safety measures to protect users. The City will notify Shiplake when to make these available to us.
You can find more information about Shiplake’s current projects in the June Minutes, e.g., garbage shed, dog park, etc., posted on 45dunfieldta.org.
Hope that this has been helpful. Please continue to help protect our vulnerable residents by WEARING A MASK in the building. It is the most effective way of containing this outbreak. Be safe.
–Your TTA Executive
Questions? Suggestions? Let us know!
At the torontoniancommunications@gmail.com
Visit the TTA’s website, at 45dunfieldta.org!
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