Guarantors and Co-Signers Liability (RTA Leases)

Caselaw.Ninja, Riverview Group Publishing 2021 ©
Date Retrieved:	2024-10-01
CLNP Page ID:	2167
Page Categories:	[Contract Law, Leases, & Sub-Letting (LTB)]
Citation:	Guarantors and Co-Signers Liability (RTA Leases), CLNP 2167, <https://rvt.link/4k>, retrieved on 2024-10-01
Editor:	Sharvey
Last Updated:	2023/02/28

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Billion v Vaillancourt, 2016 ONSC 5820 (CanLII)

[11] Although the landlord testified that the property he found in the tenant’s apartment was junk, the landlord did bring in Ronald Branton (described as “an entrepreneur, percussionist and recorded music producer”) to do an appraisal of the property. Based on the seven or eight items he looked at, Mr. Branton said the tenant’s property was worth well over $10,000.00. On the tenant’s evidence, the monetary value of his collection was over $70,000.00 and there were also many items of great sentimental value. The Member held that in these circumstances the landlord had an obligation to notify the tenant’s parents before simply throwing away the tenant’s property, particularly given his knowledge that the tenant’s parents had been trying to reach him and that he had contact information for them.

[12] It is not clear that this finding is a question of law. It seems to us that it is at best a question of mixed fact and law and that any legal principle is inextricably bound up with facts. However, even if there is an extricable question of law (which we believe there is not) and even if the standard of review is correctness (which we say it is not) we would uphold it.

[13] This decision must be viewed in light of its underlying and unique facts. In Mputu v. Wright, [2004] O.J. No. 6055 (S.C.J.) Wilson J. held at paragraph 41 that: “Landlords that fail to act reasonably in the circumstances face risk of liability.” She further held at paragraph 39 that circumstances of the case before her that, “reasonable positive steps should be taken to make arrangements for the tenants to remove their belongings.” While the Member in this case appears to have misquoted Mputu somewhat, her decision is fully consistent with the principles established in that case. A landlord must act reasonably. A landlord cannot simply ignore attempts on behalf of the tenant to contact him or turn a blind eye to what he knows is not simple abandonment of property. The landlord’s conduct in this case was egregious and easily meets any test for abuse of process. Such a finding is also supported by the case law, see Mputu v. Wright; Cruickshank v. Mobal Khan Enterprises, [2002] O.J. No. 3355 (S.C.J.); Maturell v. Dunelm Holdings [2000] O.J. No. 1880 (S.C.J.).