"We need your help," Ward 41 Councillor Bas Balkissoon (Scarborough-Rouge River) told members of the city's planning committee Thursday morning.

Balkissoon was joined by Scarborough-Agincourt councillors Mike Del Grande (Ward 39) and Norm Kelly (Ward 40) in calling on the city to demand power from the province to license secondary suites in single family areas.

Under provincial legislation, suites like granny flats and basement apartments are legal within the residential zoning definition.

RENTAL HOUSING STOCK

There are an estimated 100,000 such units in the city - about 20 per cent of rental housing stock - although exact numbers are difficult to calculate because of the lack of licensing control.

Balkissoon said there are homes in his ward that have been converted to full-fledged apartments with "15 or 20 unrelated people" living in them.

That is not only unhealthy and potentially dangerous for the tenants, it's creating problems for neighbouring homeowners, he added.

"Some people have $400,000 invested in their homes so this has to be taken seriously," Balkissoon said.

He said that while fire officials have the right to enter and inspect the second suites, municipal property standards inspectors do not.

Planning commissioner Paula Dill said the issue of licensing second suites is part of a larger study on rental housing that is being conducted in conjunction with the city's community and neighbourhood services department.

A report is expected in April that will address the need for licensing and inspection rights.