December, 2019 - Canadian CRB Program

Certified Rental Building™ Program – a win-win scenario

Dec 1, 2019

We understand what an important decision it is to choose an apartment building, and we believe people should be able to expect certain standards of quality and service when they rent.

That’s why the Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario(FRPO) created the Certified Rental Building Program™ (CRBP), the first of its kind in North America.

Among our goals is to promote a healthy, competitive rental housing industry that benefits both landlords and tenants. Part of this win-win scenario is the opportunity for those seeking rental accommodations to know when they are choosing an apartment building that meets those standards.

This Program didn’t happen overnight. We understand renter concerns and thought that the time had come to establish a benchmark “quality-assurance program” which would make it easy for tenants to identify well-run, well-managed multi-residential apartment buildings. After all, an apartment is the renter’s home, and quality of life is as important for tenants as it is for home owners.

Think of the CRBP as the proverbial “good house-keeping” seal of approval for apartment buildings “something you can count on” to help you find a rental apartment building that adheres to the Certified Rental Building Program and make your rental decision easier and ultimately, makes your day-to-day life safer and more pleasant.

The CRBP logo posted at multi-residential apartment buildings across Ontario lets you know that the property manager and staff practice over 36 established apartment building management and customer service standards. It shows you they care about the quality of the building and of the service they provide to tenants. The CRBP empowers apartment shoppers with a tool that will help lead them toward greater satisfaction with their rental decision.

The Program requires property managers and owners to have solid business practices and processes in place. It promotes professionalism in the industry across the province, as well as a renewed respect for just how important a well-run building is to the well being of those who live within it.

To be certified, applicants must complete the apartment rental housing training and education component of the program, including a test at the end. This covers a multitude of topics, from knowledge of the Human Rights Code, to fire and building code compliance, staff training policies, proper safety procedures, information and privacy law compliance and much more. Even things like keeping elevators, heating and cooling equipment well-maintained are part of the Program. There are also annual site inspections that enhance the enforcement of the program requirements.

Respect is a two-way street, and certainly, renters are expected to abide by the building rules that help to keep all tenants safe and comfortable. The landlord or property manager is also responsible for upholding the rules for that same reason.

When all is said and done, renting in Ontario is typically less expensive than owning. Renters should not have to sacrifice quality and/or service when it comes to their residences. The CRBP helps to ensure that they have a solid, well-maintained building to call home.

Certification makes a difference – The proof is in the feedback!

Dec 1, 2019

In June of 2008, the Federation of Rental-housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO) launched the first-ever tenant-focused quality-assurance program that promotes property management best practices when it comes to operating apartment buildings and providing good quality service to tenants.

From the feedback received over the past three-and-a-half years, we were spot-on in our intentions, with the Certified Rental Building Program (CRBP), to provide Ontario renters with an apartment quality-assurance tool that would assist them to find an apartment home with good quality service standards in well-managed, well-run, professionally managed apartment buildings.

The numbers tell the story of how Ontario rental-housing consumers are seeing first hand the benefits and value in finding a quality rental home that meets CRBP Standards of Practice.

Last year, prospective renters clicked on the program’s website (www.crb.program.org) over 21,000 times and conducted over 52,000 individual searches for a rental-property of their choosing. After only eight months, in 2012, that website has been visited over 35,000 times and is on track to double the number of renter inquiries in 2012.

There is yet another glowing example witnessed in J.D. Power’s 2011 Canadian Resident Survey results:

• Over 74 per cent, of renters surveyed, cite building certification as “somewhat” or “extremely” important in their decision to rent;

• Over 26 per cent are aware of the CRB program administered by FRPO or one in four prospective renters cited the CRB program as a part of their decision criteria in choosing a rental home

• Finally over 80 per cent indicated “definitely” or “probably” will recommend their building to others if it was certified.

Customer service standards are a major component of the CRBP, ensuring that property management staffs, in “certified” buildings, provide all tenants with efficient, safe living conditions and courteous, respectful service. Renee Bourgon, Director of Marketing and Communications at Minto Properties states that “The FRPO Certified Rental Building Program re-enforces and supports our objectives to apply high standards of resident services across the entire portfolio of our buildings.

This consistency across Certified buildings in Ontario produces positive results that are not lost on prospective renters and existing tenants. Among the comments we have received are the following:

• “The FRPO Certified Building Program gave us the confidence to know we were moving into a well run building, before we actually made an appointment to check it out.

• The Certified building program is known for looking after the details of what a tenant should expect from a landlord.

• The FRPO Certified Building Program is like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval for all Ontario Rental properties, and we like it.

• When we were looking for a new apartment, we knew to narrow our focus to FRPO CRB Buildings only.

• We are careful about who we rent from, so we would only choose a building that was FRPO Certified.

• If you want to take the guessing out of what company offers the best run buildings, look for the CRB Sign in the ads.

As an industry association, FRPO’s objective is to promote a balanced and healthy housing market with a vital rental-housing industry, choice for consumers, adequate government assistance for low-income households, and effective private sector solutions to rental-housing needs. The CRBP is just one example of how we meet the diverse needs of our members and continue to help those seeking rental accommodations to make their best choice.

10 ways to conserve energy in your apartment

Dec 1, 2019

In these hot and sticky summer days we are all doing whatever it takes to keep cool and to beat heat. But sometimes in our desire to keep cool, we forget about the importance of energy consumption.

The Certified Rental Building™ Program encourages residents to become more environmentally conscious and energy efficient. All CRB-approved™ building are Living GREEN Together™ certified. Watch this video to learn more…

Here are 10 easy tips to help ensure that you are cutting back on both your environmental footprint and energy costs. Regardless of if you pay your own electricity costs or it is part of your rent, conserving energy is important and YOU can make a difference!

Master the technique of ‘task lighting’ and keep the lights in your apartment on only if you need them! It’s that simple and effective.
Replace incandescent lamps with compact fluorescent or LED lighting as they are more energy efficient and do a much better job of keeping your apartment cool.
Small things can make a big difference. For example, shutting the blinds to block sunlight from entering the room does wonders for keeping it cooler, not to mention cutting electricity usage.
Choose a fan over your rental unit’s air conditioner, unless the air conditioner is needed for medical purposes or there is an extreme heat warning. Always remember, health is the first priority.
No matter if it’s an air conditioner or fan; turn it off when your apartment is empty.
Ensure all windows are shut when the air conditioner is running. When hot air comes in, the air conditioner requires more energy to keep the room cool.
Make it a routine to turn off computers along with printers when they are not in use. While leaving them on for the entire day has become a household phenomenon, they are a major contributor to energy consumption, even when you are not using them.
Avoid using a microwave to thaw frozen food before cooking. Use the fridge to thaw frozen items. This results in a shorter time needed for cooking.
Wash dishes and cutlery by hand instead of using the dishwasher, especially when the dishwasher is only half full.
Do your laundry only when you have a full load! It’s best to wash less in bigger bundles. If you do have to wash a small load, use the appropriate water-level setting and cold water cycle.

Give these tips a try! You can make a difference.