Toronto Tenants Unite!: HST and tenants

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HST and tenants

Posted by Dan McIntyre on 9/10/2009, 5:17 pm

Quite a few people have been asking me about the Harmonized Sales Tax and how it will affect tenants.

First of all, it will not be added to rent. Sales Tax has never been applied to rent itself.

However, it will be adding an additional 8% on heat and hydro. For tenants who pay utilities directly, this will be an immediate hit. Currently there is only GST of 5%, the HST is 13%.

For tenants who have utilities included in the rent, there is still vulnerability because this additional cost will qualify for an above the guideline increase. A landlord will first have to incur the cost before any application can be made, and a formula will be applied. If there is also a rate increase, the effect will be worse.
Make no mistake, landlords have always passed on utility costs to tenants so we are all paying for heat and hydro.

That is why we have asked the Government to not add the HST to heat or hydro or water. We will continue to press that point in public discussions.

Is the HST plan a good move by the Ontario Government otherwise? We will leave that to politicians to debate and for individuals to make up their own minds. But we should all agree to exclude heat and hydro, and nobody should suggest that it be placed on rent.

Message Thread:

HST and tenants - Dan McIntyre 9/10/2009, 5:17 pm
- Re: HST and tenants - Gerry 9/11/2009, 8:55 am
  - Re: HST and tenants - Sylvia 9/11/2009, 9:42 pm
    - Re: HST and tenants - Jan 9/12/2009, 9:11 am
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--Previous Message-- : Quite a few people have been asking me about : the Harmonized Sales Tax and how it will : affect tenants. : : First of all, it will not be added to rent. : Sales Tax has never been applied to rent : itself. : : However, it will be adding an additional 8% : on heat and hydro. For tenants who pay : utilities directly, this will be an : immediate hit. Currently there is only GST : of 5%, the HST is 13%. : : For tenants who have utilities included in : the rent, there is still vulnerability : because this additional cost will qualify : for an above the guideline increase. A : landlord will first have to incur the cost : before any application can be made, and a : formula will be applied. If there is also a : rate increase, the effect will be worse. : Make no mistake, landlords have always : passed on utility costs to tenants so we are : all paying for heat and hydro. : : That is why we have asked the Government to : not add the HST to heat or hydro or water. : We will continue to press that point in : public discussions. : : Is the HST plan a good move by the Ontario : Government otherwise? We will leave that to : politicians to debate and for individuals to : make up their own minds. But we should all : agree to exclude heat and hydro, and nobody : should suggest that it be placed on rent. : : :

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