Program’s Standards of Practice
What are the Certified Rental Building Program’s Standards of Practice?
Buildings entered into the Program must be able to meet and comply with the program's Standards of Practice. These standards cover a wide range of prudent and professional building management practices that ensure rental-housing consumers are receiving quality products/services when selecting their apartment.
What are the Certified Rental Building Program’s Standards of Practice?
Standards of Practice are defined as those industry-leading processes, routines, and activities that foster high standards of professional management practices and quality of service for tenants. They were developed by Federation of Rental-Housing Providers of Ontario (FRPO). They must be adhered to by all multi-residential buildings enrolled in the Certified Rental Building Program.
The Standards of Practice relate to professional management processes, inputs, and routines in the following areas:
- Resident Management Practices
- Human Resources Policies & Practices
- Building Management & General Operations
- Financial & Accounting
It is expected that new Standards of Practice will be added to the Program from time to time to reflect enhanced product and service quality standards for tenants.
What is the role of the Standards of Practice in the Program?
The Standards of Practice are the industry established standards that ensure a multi-residential apartment building is being well-run and well-managed. They are mandatory and all buildings entered into the Program must be able to demonstrate compliance with each and every standard. They were designed to ensure that all multi-residential buildings entered into the Certified Rental Building Program employ a consistent set of industry quality standards and quality of service practices that provide consistently good value and quality for tenants and prospective tenants.
Property Managers/Property Owners alike who enter buildings into the Program and are seeking certification of their buildings must be able to demonstrate compliance with each Standard and agree to uphold and abide by the Program’s Standards of Practice as long as the building certification is in effect.
What are some of the examples of the Standards of Practice a "Certified Rental Building" must demonstrate on an ongoing basis?
There are over 36 different Standards of Practice that a building and Property Manager must clearly be able to demonstrate before they can be entered into the Program. Examples of these Standards of Practice include the following:
- Strict Adherence to regular building cleaning schedules
- Effective communications with tenants when building repairs are necessary
- Response to tenant inquiries within two business days
- Human rights responsibilities practiced with tenants & employees
- Properly maintained elevators
- Adherence to provincial fire and building codes
- Well-maintained heating and cooling equipment
- Annual suite inspections
- Continuous education program for staff
- Tenant information stored in compliance with PIPEDA
- Interest on last month's rent paid to tenants
- Provision of emergency contact information to tenants
Who ensures that the Property Manager and the respective Building(s) entered in the Program have successfully demonstrated compliance with the Standard of Practice?
The Program has engaged the firm of J.D. Power and Associates as its Auditor. They have been engaged to complete the building audits. Use of an independent third-party auditor brings the necessary respect and credibility that rental-housing consumers, and outside stakeholder communities alike can rely on. All buildings entered into the Program that are subsequently granted “Certified Rental Building” status have successfully demonstrated compliance and adherence with the Standards of Practice.
Where can I get more information on the Program’s Standards of Practice?
A copy of the Program’s Standards of Practice is available upon request. Please direct all inquiries to: info@crbprogram.com
