SaltToday

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

Crocodile tears, sorry. Seems just another aloof landlord whose interest/responsibility goes no further than collecting rent. 90 days overdue should trigger notice to the property owner. I'd wonder whether this landlord would be any quicker dealing with repairs or any other terms of the lease. Simple negligence on the landlord's part. It's just business.

- Splurfy

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

This is very unfair on the landlord. And now that this is public, what stops other deadbeat tenants from doing the same thing knowing the City will make the landlord pay. If this is a thing, make it going forward, but past overdue accounts are the Utility's issue, not the landlords. Go after the tenant. (I am neither a tenant or a landlord, this is just my opinion and this situation is terrible) No wonder we need more affordable housing, people don't want to be landlords anymore. Too much hassles and too expensive!

- MakeGuelphGreatAgain

Council considers selling downtown parking lot

Well this makes no sense. A parking lot adjacent to the go station and minutes from downtown. What the city should be doing is making this parking lot into a multi storey parking lot to accommodate more parking for the downtown, Metro links and the surrounding residents who have no parking available.

- Lorraine Pagnan

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

If the landlord becomes responsible for a tenants debts when they default and disappear the tenant should have no expectation of privacy when it comes to their financial affairs. The tenant should be found arrested and charged with fraud.

- J Seriously?

OPINION: Guthrie plays it too safe in dull State of the City

I'm repeating myself but, IMHO, it's worth repeating:"[Mayor Guthrie] a Guelphite born and raised and I have no doubt with respect to his love of and passion for the Royal City.But it's been 12 years since he was first elected mayor and the city has gone downhill ever since. Just because he loves this city doesn't mean that he can run it effectively. In fact, IMHO, he has proven the opposite.Time to elect a new mayor and thank Mayor Guthrie for his dedication and service."

- Royal City Rabble Rouser

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

Did you read the article? There is no way for the LL to find out if the TT is paying the water bill....that's the issue! It's got nothing to do with an 'aloof' LL or negligence.....

- Bonnie Swantek

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

Why is the landlord involved in this? Is the landlord responsible for the tenant’s car payments too?One solution to ease the so called housing crisis is to reduce the risk of being a landlord - something the city can easily do on many fronts.

- TQ

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

Investment comes with risk. They probably felt they could just rent out a place and sit back and profit off the rent with little to no work. If they want that, they should invest in stocks and not property.

- B Gi

OPINION: Guthrie plays it too safe in dull State of the City

And do the city one last favour…announce now he will not be running again, so suitable candidates can prepare.

- Ben There

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

The landlords can sue the former tenants. I mean, being a landlord comes with financial risks, they should know this going into the endeavour. I think they're either lazy or didn't do their homework on the intricacies of being landlords. Don't feel one ounce of pity for them.

- B Gi

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

Read the article. Privacy prevents landlord in knowing anything, tenant doesn't pay, landlord never knows until it's in arrears for years. Read before commenting.

- MakeGuelphGreatAgain

OPINION: Guthrie plays it too safe in dull State of the City

For @ben there and others on here constantly criticizing, including the reporter who wrote this (and will probably delete my comment). Cam is the best candidate, hands down. Until a true candidate comes forward, Cam is top. Maybe come behind your username and run yourself?

- Born and raised in Guelph

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

In these cases the landlord had no idea of the amount in arrears. Way beyond the $500, and five years in arrears. Due to privacy issues landlord can’t get any info. The City failed here. Not the landlords.

- MakeGuelphGreatAgain

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

If the city is going to hold the owner liable the city should automatically send the bill to the tenant and the landlord. Just add a clause to every service contract stating that all billing is automatically forwarded . Nobody has the right to accumulate debt for someone without them knowing . The city is absolutely negligent on this.

- DR64

OPINION: Guthrie plays it too safe in dull State of the City

Mayor Guthrie will run again for mayor because he wants to be mayor. That's it. Unfortunately, that's enough. His confidence comes from both structural advantage and political circumstance. When he first ran for office, Guthrie leaned heavily on “the buck stops here” rhetoric — a message that resonated enough to help carry him into the mayor’s chair. But after multiple terms having been essentially acclaimed into the most powerful municipal position in the city, there’s a widening gap between that early accountability language and his current approach. A part‑time council ensures that the pool of viable challengers remains chronically small, and low voter turnout compounds the issue. In that context, He will run because he doesn't have to lift a finger to "win". Guthrie is as much a creation of civic apathy as he is a creator of it. But, ultimately, we get the leadership we deserve. So, it's on us.

- David Gibson

Don Cherry picked for Order of Ontario

No one more deserving. Should've happened a long time ago. God love him.

- ACJ

City seeks public input as staff draft vacant home tax rules

There are so many variables to this issue.Home owners are already paying property taxes on a home; now City Council has unanimously voted to dictate how long a family can be gone before having to pay a penalty tax (property tax).Next we will be putting a tax on empty commercial properties.Abandoned, disrepair properties I can understand taxing; vacant private properties I do not agree the City has the right to do so.

- Alec Purves

Proposed 24-storey building on Fountain Street would be student housing

That building is way too big

- Reasonable Person

Guelph landlords left with five years of tenants’ water bills

If a person does not pay their water bill (or electric) why doesn't the utility cut them off after 6 months? Seems a no brainer solution.

- AnneHolman

OPINION: Guthrie plays it too safe in dull State of the City

And will probably spend another $65K on the campaign , and as you say, basically acclaimed.There should be 2 term limits.

- Ben There