The City of St. Catharines’ Vital Services By-law provides the City authority to force landlords to provide tenants with an uninterrupted supply of vital services, which include gas, heat, fuel, electricity, and hot and cold water.
In accordance with this by-law, landlords are required to maintain the utilities necessary to sustain a healthy and safe dwelling unit for tenants. Unless otherwise documented in a tenancy agreement, landlords are responsible for providing tenants with adequate and suitable vital services.
If a landlord refuses to provide a vital service for a rental unit in accordance with the Vital Services By-law, the City may arrange for the services to be restored and provided. Violators are subject to all costs incurred and an additional 10 per cent administrative fee, registered on title as a lien.
The by-law includes a progressive administrative penalty fee structure to assist by-law officers with obtaining voluntary compliance. Fines of up to $25,000 for a first-time offence and $50,000 for first-time offences committed by a corporation. These fines can be doubled for repeat offences.
Please contact Citizens First by calling 905.688.5600 to report a Vital Services By-law infraction.