Hamilton condo dwellers are demanding a new tax deal from the city.

A large contingent sat in at the committee of the whole meeting Monday where the local chapter of the Canadian Condominium Institute delivered a request to be freed from paying municipal taxes for services they don't get, such as door-to-door garbage pickup and street snow removal in condo subdivisions.

Ian Rowe, president of the condo board at Twenty Place in Mount Hope, said condos are taxed identically to single family homes based on market value. Yet many condo owners have to pay private contractors to take away garbage and recycling, clean catch basins, inspect fire hydrants, power streetlights and plow snow, he said.

Those costs are built into monthly condo fees.

"Residents should receive value for their taxes, regardless of the type of housing."

Some councillors said apartment tenants also argue about unfair taxation and that if residential condo dwellers were reimbursed for services, other private property owners would look for the same deal.

Staff pointed out that hydrants and catch basins on private property are always the responsibility of the property owner.

The committee referred the matter to staff for a report.

Councillor Brad Clark supported further study, saying condos are important to meeting the province's intensification targets and Hamilton must be competitive with other municipalities.