On June 4, 2025, the Competition Bureau (the “Bureau”) released its Final Guidelines on Competitor Property Controls (the “Guidelines”). The Guidelines clarify how the Bureau will assess contractual restrictions in commercial leases and restrictive covenants under Canada’s Competition Act, following recent legislative amendments. The Bureau uses the term “competitor property controls” to describe restrictions on […]
Renovations are necessary and important for landlords to maintain and improve their properties. Improvements also benefit tenants in the long run. In many cases, vacant possession is necessary to complete the work, which displaces the current tenants in an already difficult housing market. As such, the government regulates “renovictions” – evictions for the purpose of […]
The phenomenon known as “renoviction” has garnered much attention on Prince Edward Island in recent years. On November 17, 2021, the Province of Prince Edward Island passed Bill 122, which implemented a two-year moratorium on the ability of landlords to evict tenants to renovate their occupied units. While the government of PEI is currently in […]
As platforms such as Airbnb become ever more popular, tenants will increasingly seek to sublet their units on a frequent, short-term basis – potentially to even turn a profit. Although in principle sublets benefit both landlords and tenants, the unfortunate reality is that if used improperly they can create a major problem for landlords. A recent court decision has provided protection for landlords.
It’s exciting when your business grows beyond the family basement (or your dining room table) and is ready to take up commercial space of its own. Leasing space, whether a storefront or an office, is a sign of business legitimacy, sustainability, and growth. Like any contract, a commercial lease sets out the terms that the […]