An Oshawa landlord company has been fined for Residential Tenancies Act violation, according to Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Buena Vista Apartments was fined for failing to afford a tenant a right of first refusal between June 22, 2024 and April 28, 2025.
The judgement was announced on February 4, the statement said.
“Following a guilty plea, Buena Vista Apartments Inc. was fined $15,000 in Durham Region by Justice of the Peace Mathilda Hewitt,” the statement said.
“The court also imposed a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge ($3,750) in accordance with the Provincial Offences Act,” it added.
Buena Vista Apartments is the owner of 305 Buena Vista Avenue, Oshawa. It had notified the tenant that effective June 30, 2024, their lease was being terminated as the building would be undergoing extensive repairs and renovations.
Right Of First Refusal
Tenants may have a “right of first refusal” to move back into the rental unit once renovations are complete by giving written notice to the landlord before moving out. The rent when the tenant moves back in must be the same as if there had been no interruption in the tenancy, said the ministry statement.
The tenant gave written notice to Buena Vista Apartments that they were exercising their right to move back into the unit once the repairs and renovations were complete.
In April 2025, Buena Vista Apartments did not provide the tenant a right of first refusal and rented the newly renovated unit to another individual, the statement pointed out.
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