Feb REAL ESTATE AGENT CONVICTED OF OPERATING ILLEGAL BASEMENT APARTMENT

							Feb. 5, 2007                                                                                                           07-017


  REAL ESTATE AGENT CONVICTED OF OPERATING ILLEGAL BASEMENT APARTMENT

BRAMPTON – A Brampton real estate agent has been convicted of operating an illegal basement
apartment.

Real estate agent Brian Wilding was convicted in Provincial Offences Court on Jan. 31 of illegal
use of lands. He was fined $25,000 and issued a prohibition order. This is the maximum penalty
for this offence.

On Feb. 15, 2006 Enforcement & By-Law Services received a complaint that a Brampton home on
Edenborough Drive had been modified to contain three apartments, a main apartment and two
illegal basement apartments. The illegal basement apartment came to light after it was discovered
for sale on Multiple Listing Service (MLS).

This is the second time Wilding has been convicted of operating an illegal basement apartment.
Wilding was convicted on Feb. 18, 2004 on the same charge and for failing to register a two-unit
house. He was fined $200 and $400 respectively. These charges were associated with the same
residential address.

“This conviction is a victory for the City of Brampton,” said Matt Holland, Director of Enforcement
and By-Law Services. “Council’s efforts to eliminate illegal basement apartments are starting to
have an impact. We will continue to work with the Brampton Real Estate Board (BREB) and the
Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) to deal with this problem.”

The Fire Code regulates fire safety in homes including the requirements for dividing walls, exits,
smoke alarms and electrical safety. “Basement apartments that do not satisfy the provisions of the
Fire Code may be a fire safety hazard and tenants lives could be put at risk,” said Fire Chief Terry
Irwin.

Enforcement and By-Law Services is increasing its efforts to eliminate illegal basement
apartments by allocating additional resources to target parking problems and investigating
complaints. Staff will continue to scrutinize MLS listings and classified ads and will charge both
buyers and sellers.


About Brampton- Brampton is among Canada's largest cities, third in the Greater Toronto Area. Home to more than 434,000
residents representing 62 distinct cultures, Brampton enjoys an unparalleled diversity of ideas, skills and innovation from its
citizens and business community. Brampton has earned the name “Flower City” for having the most acres of greenhouse space in
Canada. In 2006, Brampton won the Best Blooming Community in Canada Award in the National Communities in Bloom (CIB)
Competition. For more information visit www.brampton.ca
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Marta Marychuk               Matt Holland
Media Specialist             Director of Enforcement and By-Law
City of Brampton             Services
905-874-2003                 905-458-3424, ext. 105
marta.marychuk@brampton.ca   matt.holland@brampton.ca