July 07, 2003
8:00 p.m.
Lots of parktime today, thought we didn't make it to High Park. Dusty has a new friend - a lab-mix named Coo (she's Foo's sister). They played for nearly an hour this evening.
The new apartment is official, but there was a bit of a battle to fight first. In Toronto, landlords can't prohibit tenants from owning pets (within reason, of course; you can't keep a pony in your bachelor apartment). This change in law was made through the Tenant Protection Act - pretty much the only positive element of this bad piece of legislation. Despite the name, the Act really favours landlords more than it helps tenants.
As I filled out my application last night, I noticed a section that read "NO PETS ARE ALLOWED." Beside this bold statment was a place for me to sign, acknowledging this illegal rule. By signing, I would have authorised the landlord to make this a condition of my lease. If I didn't know the law, I probably would have. VERY cohersive of them.
But I know the law, so I neatly wrote: "Not applicable." Today, when the superintendant noticed this, she urged me to sign. I very sweetly told her that I understood my rights under the Tenant Protection Act and I wasn't required to sign such a declaration.
We chatted a bit, then she tried again. Again I told her that I had no intention of signing. I didn't tell her that I had a dog, but skirted around the subject by saying: "I would like the option to have a dog and I know the law allows this. There's a good chance I may bring a small dog into my apartment. If you're troubled by it, I'll have to look for another place."
She changed the subject. When her husband came in, she introduced me and then said to him in obvious astonishment "She knows everything about the rental laws!" She seemed kind of impressed by my confidence around the issue. I left the application with her and figured that if it didn't work out, I could always look elsewhere.
She phoned me this afternoon and told me the apartment was mine. I'm pretty sure that she knows that I have a little dog 'up my sleeve.' I think she figured that I was a good prospective tenant so it was worth the risk. After all, that little bachelor apartment is not exactly going to go quickly in this market (there's a glut of rentals right now). I think my refusal to bend was an easily overlooked detail. In a better market, I might not have had it as easy, but at least the law is on my side in any case.
I think Clancy's owner was right to tell me to skirt the truth. I'm perfectly comfortable with my white lie and once I move in, I'll introduce the superintendant to my roommate! *grin*