Toronto Coun. Howard Moscoe says he expects landlords in the city will have to be licensed starting next year.

Moscoe, chair of the Toronto licensing and standards committee, says it's the only way to ensure slum landlords keep their buildings up to standard and that city staff have written a report outlining ways the proposal can move forward.

For tenants in a building on West Lodge Avenue, the move would be welcomed. They says they've spent 10 years trying to get their landlord to make repairs.

Cynthia Vanderhayden, Michael Pointer and Britney McMann outlined some problems they face on a regular basis.

"Our friend was caught in the elevators for three hours one time," said Vanderhayden. [The elevators] take like 20 minutes to come down. Sometimes you have to wait forever. I want to live in a place that's clean, not dirty. Then the other day, the whole boiler was shut off for the whole day and there was no [hot] water."

Cockroaches have also infested the building.

Moscoe says licensing landlords would make it easier for the city to force them to make repairs. Right now they can postpone work orders indefinitely.

"If a landlord doesn't want to repair his building, he can get away with it. Under the new scheme, I am hoping to get rid of all that, to shorten it up. The work orders will be instant and swift: 'Here is your timeline you don't have it done we are having you in a court,'" he says.

Moscoe says landlords would face hefty fines if they don't maintain their buildings.

The money collected would go towards hiring more inspectors.

The proposal comes up for further discussion in November. Then there will be public meetings to get input from tenants and landlords.