Improving Safety Measures to Fight COVID

 As the Toronto real estate industry continues to boom and the pandemic continues to impose restrictions on daily life, it’s crucial that both landlords and the City of Toronto improve health and safety measures in residential buildings.

 City officials have already urged Condo Boards and Landlords to adopt additional measures to protect Toronto residents from the spread of COVID-19. These new measures are aimed especially at large residential buildings that have a large number of units.

 “During this unusual time, patience and understanding from landlords is necessary to help stop the spread of COVID-19,” according to the City of Toronto website. “The City encourages all property owners to check in on their vulnerable residents and if necessary, connect them to the appropriate local agencies and supports.”

 The RentSafeTO program was implemented several years before the pandemic, but remains another important part of fighting the spread of the virus while raising standards for apartment buildings across the city.

 The program has been expanded since the start of the pandemic to include safety measures focused on fighting the spread of COVID-19 through more requirements of apartment building owners and operators.

 The new safety requirements “include providing hand sanitizer in common areas, keeping non-essential common areas closed as specified by provincial orders, cleaning frequently-touched surfaces, and posting Toronto Public Health signage,” according to the City of Toronto.

 At Alto Properties, we offer the highest standards of health and safety — before, during and even after this pandemic is finally over.

 For example, 859 Kennedy Road scored an 87 percent in a RentSafeTO report released in January, placing it in the top category for buildings evaluated by the program.

 As mandated by the RentSafe safety measures, a score of 85 percent or less requires a re-evaluation in two years. If the building receives a score below 66 percent, the evaluation reoccurs in just one year. If the building scores at 50 percent or lower, then city officials will conduct a full audit.

 The evaluations include inspections of many different health and safety issues for apartment buildings. Categories include water issues, security, exterior walkways, elevators, guardrails, maintenance of garbage, cleanliness of floors and ceilings, the amount of graffiti, and many other examples. Each category receives a score between 1 and 5.

 Alto Properties’ 859 Kennedy Road did not receive a score lower than 4 in any of the categories.

 We will also continue to adapt to any new safety measures as required by the city. We understand that the pandemic is a constantly changing situation that requires flexibility and responsibility on the part of landlords.

 That’s especially true as Ontario prepares to slowly reopen its economy after the worst of this pandemic.

 On January 4, the City of Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health issued a Letter of Instruction to all employers in the city that are permitted to be open under the Reopening Ontario Act.

 To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, those employers must take the additional measures set out in the Letter, which include: 

●       Immediate Notification to Toronto Public Health: These measures include notifications about workers who test positive for COVID-19.

●       Infection Prevention Measures: These measures are focused on proper implementation of social distancing, disinfecting common areas and doorknobs, and installing physical barriers like plexiglass wherever possible.

●       Support for Workers: The City also wants landlords to make sure all employees are aware of income replacement and workplace-related benefits if they have to isolate themselves after exposure or potential exposure to the virus.

As always, Alto Properties will work to ensure our buildings and employees meet all of these crucial safety requirements for residential buildings in Toronto.

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