On Thurs, Dec. 11, news stories broke in The Hamilton Spectator and The Public Record that the City of Hamilton issued a Building Code Emergency Order for a property on West Avenue North owned by Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath and occupied by her former common-law partner, Ben Leonetti.
Here’s what is known about the saga so far.
TIMELINE
Tues, Nov. 25, 2025
Horwath commissioned an engineering report from Kalos Engineering Inc., which deemed that the house is “structurally unsound” and should be “vacated immediately.”
The report was forwarded to City of Hamilton Chief Building Official Robert Lalli.
Wed, Nov. 26, 2025
According to The Hamilton Spectator, Horwath filed a civil suit against Leonetti a day later, stating that as part of the separation agreement between herself and Leonetti (they separated in 2010), Leonetti was supposed to maintain the property and inform Horwath of any issues.
Horwath reportedly alleged that Leonetti denied her “repeated attempts” to access the property.
Horwath is seeking $300,000 for negligence and breach of contract and $1 million in damages from Leonetti.
Wed, Dec. 3, 2025
The City of Hamilton reportedly sent two building inspectors to the property, but they were denied entry by Leonetti.
That evening, Lalli invoked Section 15.10 of the Building Code Act and issued an Emergency Order requiring that the home be vacated and demolished.
Under the Act, the order must be confirmed by the Superior Court.
Wed, Dec. 10, 2025
After a hearing that spanned three days, a Superior Court Justice ruled that the City of Hamilton’s order is invalid because the property was not inspected by the city as required under the Building Code Act.
Fri, Dec. 12, 2025
A second Emergency Order is issued by the City of Hamilton and cites a new report from Element Forensic Engineering.
The new order says that the home can be repaired, but that it can be demolished at the discretion of Horwath.
Sat, Dec. 13, 2025
The Bay Observer reports that at least two complaints have been filed with the City of Hamilton’s Integrity Commissioner.
One of the complaints questions whether Horwath was given preferential treatment since matters such as this one normally go through the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Horwath was able to bypass the Landlord and Tenant Board through the city’s emergency order.
The other complaint alleges that Horwath should have declared a conflict of interest when she voted on the city’s Renovation Licence and Relocation By-law in April 2024, since she owned the West Avenue North property at the time and it was in need of repairs.
Thurs, Dec. 18, 2025
The Hamilton Spectator reports that the city has started emergency repairs to the home. Leonetti says he will not leave the property.
Currently
It remains unclear whether or not the city will go to court in an effort to remove Leonetti from the property.
It also remains unclear if repairs will be deemed sufficient or if Horwath will seek to have the home demolished.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
