WCPT Georgian Inc., doing business as Foundry Georgian and Arcadian Students in Barrie, has been fined almost $70,000 after pleading guilty to violations of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act.
Justice of the Peace Derek Friend fined the Foundry $55,000 — plus a 25 per cent victim surcharge of $13,875 — in accordance with the Provincial Offences Act.
The Ontario Municipal Affairs and Housing Ministry released information about the June 20, 2024 convictions.
The defendant landlord, WCPT Georgian, is the owner of residential rental apartment buildings at 310 Georgian Dr., which also includes several townhouses near Royal Victoria Regional Health Care (RVH).
Between May 25, 2022 and Sept. 1, 2023, the offences were altering or causing to be altered the locking systems on front doors giving entry to rental units, interfering with tenants’ reasonable enjoyment of rental units, charging illegal fees and failing to provide a rent receipt.
The Foundry residences are home to both Georgian College students and non-students, but college officials have said it is not directly affiliated with the school.
Between June 2022 and February 2023, WCPT Georgian charged tenants illegal administration and legal fees totalling more than $3,800. These fees had not been ordered by the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Between August and September 2022, the landlord also knowingly altered or caused to be altered the locking systems on front doors giving entry to rental units without providing tenants with replacement keys.
The landlord subsequently failed to provide a tenant with a rent receipt when requested. Where a tenant or a former tenant asks the landlord for a receipt for rent, section 109 of the Residential Tenancies Act requires the landlord to provide the receipt free of charge.
The landlord’s conduct amounted to interference with tenants’ reasonable enjoyment of their rental units.
Before pleading guilty, WCPT Georgian reversed the illegal fees and produced a rent receipt for the tenant at the request of the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit.
