City of Waterloo council summary January 19, 2026

** The council summary below provides a snapshot of the major items presented at Monday’s council meeting. The council meeting webcast is available on the City of Waterloo YouTube page. Please refer to the minutes for an official record of the meeting.

City of Waterloo Council approves creation of Rental Renovation Licensing Program

City of Waterloo Council has approved the introduction of a new Rental Renovation Licensing By-law, requiring landlords to obtain a licence when issuing an N13 Notice for renovations requiring vacant possession.

Licensing applications will require submission of documents including:

• proof of delivery of the Tenant and Landlord Rights and Obligations Information Package
• copies of building permits, and
• professional confirmation that vacant possession of the rental unit is required.

Applications will be reviewed by a Licensing and Standards Officer, who would be responsible for investigating non-compliance. Tenant inquiries or disputes will be triaged in collaboration with a Tenant Support Liaison role, a single point of contact for tenants experiencing housing instability, eviction concerns or other conflicts with their landlord. A $20,000 annual Tenant Support Fund will be established to assist tenants experiencing financial hardship who require access to legal guidance or advocacy services related to eviction.

To implement this new level of service, the Rental Renovation Licensing Program will be funded from Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve for 2026. Staff will bring forward the permanent funding request for the rental renovation licensing program as part of the 2027 budget cycle.

-30-

Media contact:

Cari Van Niekerk
Director, Corporate Communications
cari.vanniekerk@waterloo.ca