Windsor landlords could soon face new regulations, as the city takes a step back to reassess its approach to rental property safety and management.

Recently, Windsor City Council hit the brakes on its rental licensing pilot program in Wards 1 and 2. The two-year initiative aimed to evaluate the safety and standards of local rental properties, but the results raised some serious concerns.

During the pilot, inspectors reviewed 660 rental units, and only 29% passed the inspection criteria. Common issues included:

• Missing or non-functional smoke alarms
• Unsafe staircases
• Overall neglect of property standards

These findings have sparked a citywide conversation: how can Windsor ensure safe, livable rental housing without creating excessive red tape?

City staff estimate that expanding the current rental licensing model across Windsor would cost over $4 million annually and require 34 new employees. That price tag, coupled with administrative complexity, has some landlords pushing back. They argue the program adds layers of bureaucracy without addressing root problems in the rental market.

However, supporters of the pilot say the data doesn’t lie. With less than a third of units meeting safety standards, they believe stronger oversight is not just necessary but urgent.

City Council is now exploring alternative solutions, such as:

• Licensing property managers
• Implementing a landlord rating system

While no decisions have been finalized, these ideas will be considered as part of the 2026 municipal budget discussions.

Stay Tuned: Whether you’re a landlord, tenant, or property manager, these potential changes could have a big impact. We’ll continue monitoring updates and share them as they develop.

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