Eviction delays at Landlord and Tenant Board driving rise in social housing rent arrears

Almost $60,000 in unpaid rent is owed to our local Social Services for some of its social housing units, up sharply from the same time last year.

Mike Nadeau, CEO of the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board, presented the rental arrears figures to the board on Thursday as part of his Quarter 1 statistical report.

In Q1 2023, just over $46,000 was owing from the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Corporation’s (SSMHC) 700-plus rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units. One year later, that unpaid rent has ballooned to $58,000 — a 25 per cent increase year-over-year.

In contrast, just $417 is owing in rent arrears for SSMHC’s affordable market units and $1,524 is owing in its market rent units.

Nadeau told the board the increasing rent arrears figure in the RGI units is attributable to the provincial Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and its backlog in holding eviction hearings.

”When people lose their subsidy rent, arrears increase and, until the conviction order is received, those arrears will continue,” said Nadeau.

In 2023, a total of 14 RGI renters were successfully evicted. 

During previous meetings, Nadeau has noted that eviction is a last resort for the SSMHC because removing someone from an RGI unit likely means their next step is a homeless shelter, which puts pressure on other parts of the system. The majority of renters in social housing units are in good standing.

Nadeau said it currently takes the SSMHC between 12 and 18 months to receive an eviction order from the LTB.

One case currently before the LTB has been going on for 12 months, said Nadeau. In the meantime, another tenant in the same building is taking the SSMHC to the tribunal for failing to provide safety and enjoyment of their unit because of that problem tenant.

”So we're asking the ministry, what are we to do?” said Nadeau. “We can't get the eviction order here and now other tenants, rightfully so, are upset about the enjoyment of their unit and they're taking us to the tribunal on the other end.”