2012 Guideline Announced at 3.1% [+] complete list   Spring 2012 Networking Event Our Spring 2012 Networking Event will take place on March 29, 2012. Check out the event section for more details about the education sessions, political update and networking event. For ongoing polictical updates pleas send a request to eolo@magma.ca. CFAA Rental Housing Conference 2012 - Vancouver, June 13-15 The CFAA Rental Housing Conference has great networking opportunities including a Building Innovations Bus Tour and Dinner Boat Cruise as well as 2 days of informative sessions by 50 knowledgeable speakers with valuable information for rental housing businesses. Join the rental housing industry at this national conference being held at the Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Vancouver. The 2 day conference early-bird rate of $425 (including sessions, breakfast, lunch and refreshments), ends April 18, 2012!      - Building Innovations Bus Tour – June 13, 12:30-4:30pm     - Investment Conference – June 14, 8am-4pm     - Dinner Boat Cruise – June 14, 5:30-9:30pm     - Facilities Management Conference – June 15, 8am-4pm For more information about topics, speakers, partnerships and registration please visit the CFAA website.  2012 Guideline Announced at 3.1% The guideline for rent increases between January 1 and December 31, 2012, is 3.1%. The guideline is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index, which at 3.1% incorporates some of the costs increases experienced with the introduction of the HST.  The 2012 guideline percentage is much closer to the typical rent increase guideline.  Although a 3.1% guideline is insufficient for covering the cost increases experienced by many rental housing providers, it is a much healthier number than the 2011 guideline of 0.7%, the lowest guideline amount since rent regulation was introduced in 1975. EOLO Calls for Garbage Collection to Remain Weekly Please click here to read EOLO's submission in the solid waste consultation. EOLO calls for Housing Benefits Conservation and Energy Subsidies EOLO calls on the Province to provide a permanent Housing Benefit program and subsidizies for energy savings measures for rental housing. View the EOLO submission on behalf of landlords in the pre-budget consultation here.  News Release: EOLO Commends Watson Homelessness Program EOLO calls on other candidates for their position on homelessness and making housing affordable. View the Press Release here.  CFAA Report Please click here to view the latest CFAA Report on economic issues for landlords. Submission to the Government of Ontario In November EOLO made a submission to the Province of Ontario for their Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy (LTAHS). Please click here to view the LTAHS Submission.   CMHC Reports Fall 2009 CMHC Rental Market Report for Ottawa Spring 2010 CMHC Rental Market Report for Ontario Fall 2010 CMHC Rental Market Report for Ottawa Fall 2010 CMHC Rental Market Report for Ontario Warning re: cold weather and freezing pipes Now that cold weather is here, open windows present a risk for frozen pipes. Please consider reminding your tenants that windows must not be left open, or that may cause serious damage. You may want particularly to warn new tenants about the freezing problem, especially those who have moved from hot climate areas. At the same time, you could promote teant insurance. Here is a draft cold weather warning in a notice you can distribute or post in your building (in an editable MS word document format). Window Falls and Safety Warnings Now that warm weather is here, windows are opened wide and balconies are in use.  windows and balconies are a safety hazard to children and pets due to the risk of falls.  Every year a baby or child is killed or seriously injured by falling out of a window or from the balcony of an Ottawa apartment. As landlords we can help avoid these tragedies by reminding our tenants of the window safety issue.  On the EOLO website you will find a draft window safety notices.  We suggest that you adapt the notice to your building, distribute it under your tenants doors and post it in the lobby of your building. Click here for a Window Safety Notice that you can post in your building(s) (editable MS Word document).