Windsor city council is saying "no" to a residential licensing bylaw.
The push for a new bylaw began after 19-year-old University of Windsor student Andrew Kraayenbrink was killed in a boarding house fire at 227 Rankin Ave. in October 2016.
Instead council has decided on a two-year pilot project, dedicating more resources to residential rental enforcement.
The project will include the hiring of two temporary building inspectors and one temporary fire prevention officer at a cost of $714,000.
Prior to council's decision, property owner Al Shipley spoke out against a residential rental licensing bylaw. "I can guarantee you if residential licensing is in acted, investors and developers will not come. They will look to other municipalities. It just doesn't create a good business model."
Kaitlyn Kraayenbrink's spoke in favour of a residential rental licensing bylaw, saying it would have made a difference. "Your city's lack of safety killed my brother and it killed me. The reality is that my family and I will grief forever. A misplaced smoke alarm that could have been prevented but having an inspection has now resulted in me facing the hardest journey I have ever walked."
Mayor Drew Dilkens says tenants should call 311 with any building condition complaints. "If you think you live in a house or you're renting a house that you think is unsafe, that there are conditions in the house whether it's electrical, missing smoke detectors those kind of things that make you feel unsafe in the house, we want you to have, the place you could call, you would call 311."
The pilot project also looks at establishing a ratio limiting the number of bedrooms in the dwelling's floor area.
Council debated the issue for more than two hours.
Close to 20 delegates addressed council on the matter.