Residents at some retirement homes are upset because they could soon be on the hook for additional costs caused by new provincial legislation aimed at making the homes safer.

The Ontario government passed the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) in 2010 to keep homes maintained at a certain standard.

Retirement homes in Ontario must also now have a licence to operate, which could amount to an extra fee of $10 per month for each resident of a retirement home starting in November.

Some homes say they are covering those costs, but others are forcing residents to swallow the extra fee.

"I mean, the other option is to cut services and I really think residents come to a retirement home to gain those services," said Sharon Henderson, a spokeswoman for Chartwell Seniors Housing.

"To have those activities, to have the socialization, the nutritious meals, the housekeeping services, all of those things help make lives better."

Chartwell, which runs 80 retirement properties, now expects its total costs to increase to about $1 million per year. The company said it would pass the cost down to residents.

Residents at one of its homes in Ottawa were mixed on the idea.

But the government believes the cost, which was kicked off with $7.5 million of Ontario taxpayers' dollars and is now a self-funding model, is worth it to help prevent abuse and neglect to residents.

"It's going to bring protection to them (homes) in the long run. There have been homes that have been burnt down. There have been inquests into abuse situations. There have been people that have been living in conditions that are not good," said Mary Beth Valentine, CEO of the RHRA.

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New Ontario retirement home rules hike costs