Affordable rental units are scarce and rents are at a historic high. We’ve heard many promises from all levels of government about initiatives to make housing more affordable, but nothing has been done to stop landlords from raising rents on vacant units and gouging those who can least afford it.
The provincial election is coming up on June 2nd. This is our chance to demand vacancy control.
What is vacancy control? Legislation that will stop landlords from raising rents by any amount they choose on newly vacated units. Currently in Ontario, vacancy decontrol is in place, which drives up rents, creates incentive for landlords to evict tenants, and is making housing less affordable.
So what can we do about it? Demand that your provincial candidates pledge their support for vacancy control. We have created a template letter that you can fill out online and send to your local candidates.
Above Guideline Rent Increases in the Age of Financialization
“Toronto is in the midst of a housing crisis, and around half of the city’s renters are paying unaffordable rents. For tenants living in rent-controlled buildings, annual rent increases are limited to the provincial rent increase guideline. However, landlords can apply for an above guideline increase (AGI) if they incurred costs related to eligible capital expenditures or security services, or if they experienced an extraordinary increase in property taxes. AGIs allow landlords to transfer these costs on to tenants, increasing rents up to an additional 3% for three successive years. This report examines the increase of AGIs in Toronto over the past several years, the impacts of AGIs on tenants, the role of financialized and corporate landlords in pursuing AGIs, and the rationales lawmakers have offered for the policy.”
CBC – Renters’ advocacy group concerned about Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board’s online transition Ryan Patrick Jones · CBC News · Posted: Dec 14, 2021
Note. This article focuses on the tremendous impact on tenants who either don’t have good access online or simply can’t afford online services in these tough economic times.
Above-guideline rent increases in Toronto up 250 per cent in six years: report Corporate landlords are responsible for 84 per cent of all above-guideline rent increases in Toronto, according to RenovictionsTO
People want Ontario to reinstate the residential eviction ban December 3, 2020
Toronto and Peel have been in full lockdown 2.0 for more than a week now, and residents are wondering why, if so many are out of work once more, a ban on residential evictions hasn’t been reinstated.
The Ford government could pass Bill 184 — Ford’s mass evictions bill as early as today — which means we don’t have much time to stop it.
If it passes, Bill 184 could allow the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to issue quick eviction notices and kick people out of their homes as early as August 1st.
We encourage you to go to this link below and complete the form with the required details. You can then be able to place a call Steve Clark, Minister of Housing and voice your opposition to this mass eviction bill:
URGENT ACTION: Rent Freeze / Suspension of Rent & End NSF Fees & Internet for All!
The Government of Canada released the Economic Response Plan to deal with the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The response is timely as it lays out a range of benefits for Canadians as well as businesses to stay afloat in these extremely challenging times.
Refer to this link for full details where you can add your voice to support this action:
What the Federal Stimulus Package Means for You Posted March 20, 2020
We heard the Federal Government releasing an Economic Response Plan to help people deal with the crisis due to COVID-19. Here is a quick summary of what the economic package has to offer. However, ACORN Members and Leaders feel there are substantial gaps between what people need and what they will get with the stimulus package.
The Ontario government has set the 2020 Annual Rent Increase Guideline at 2.2%. The guideline increase of 2.2% for 2020 is the maximum a landlord can raise a tenant’s rent without approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board. This applies to most sitting tenants in private residential rental units covered by the Residential Tenancies Act.
Rents charged to new tenants are at the discretion of the landlord.
The 2020 guideline increase takes effect from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. This 2020 guideline increase of 2.2% is the highest increase since 2013. As noted above, landlords cannot increase rent for sitting tenants above the 2.2% guideline without seeking approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board. The increased is based on the Ontario Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of inflation calculated monthly by Statistics Canada.
If the landlord intends to implement an Above Guideline Increase the landlord is required to abide by the regulations of the Landlord and Tenant Board and file an application with Landlord and Tenant Board for an Above Guideline Increase. Refer to this link at the Tribunals Ontario, Landlord and Tenant Board:
The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) is organizing a National Housing Day of Action on Friday, November 18, 2016, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM EST.
Refer to: http://www.acto.ca/
Description
Food, water and shelter are some of the most fundamental human rights, yet Canada is facing an affordable housing and homelessness crisis. Everything begins with housing – without it, no one can truly live life with dignity.
The Canadian government has promised to fix the affordable housing crisis with Canada’s first ever National Housing Strategy. On November 22nd, they will announce what they have heard people across Canada say is needed in a National Housing Strategy. We are calling for the government to ensure our National Housing Strategy will guarantee everyone the right to safe, adequate, and affordable housing.
Make your voice heard. Together let’s make a commitment that we will hold the government accountable.
You can access the ACTO flyer for this event at this link: nhd_flyer
The celebration of International Tenants Day this year will take place on Monday, October 3, 2016.
The theme this year by the International Union of Tenants (IUT) will be: Is control of rents outdated, or a necessity – worldwide?
The view of the IUT is that rent regulation is a response to the power imbalance between landlords and tenants, which creates an opportunity for landlords to exploit tenants that certainly exists in tight housing markets
Refer to these attachments for full details of this year’s theme:
East York Tenants Group 