Hamilton council voting whether to license rental units

City councillors will vote Tuesday on creating a bylaw that would see landlords pay $100 per apartment to license their units.

Members of the city planning committee will vote on the potential bylaw, which would apply to landlords with six or fewer units in their building. The bylaw would mean new regulations for landlords. It is aimed at cracking down on improper units around McMaster University and Mohawk College.

To get a license, landlords would have to provide a property maintenance plan, proof of insurance and zoning verification, among other documentation. The "permanent proactive bylaw enforcement program" would also require about 17 new city staff in the bylaw enforcement division.

Opponents of the bylaw say it could result in the disappearance of as many as 30 per cent of Hamilton's rental units at a time when the city is in dire need of affordable housing.

The staff report recommends implementing the bylaw and spending $135,000 per year to hire a manager of rental housing.

The planning committee will also examine a report that predicts a future parking shortage in the downtown core. The report suggests that the city seek out a partner to build a new parking garage.

Reporter Samantha Craggs (@SamCraggsCBC) is tweeting from the meeting.