Conservative Government's silence puts tenants at risk of eviction

SUDBURY — MPP Jamie West is calling on the Ford government to ban above-guideline rent increases in buildings of six units or more, in order to close loopholes in the Residential Tenancies Act that allow corporate landlords to abuse the system and raise rents beyond the yearly maximum.
“The Conservative Government has continuously failed to protect Ontario’s tenants,” said West.

“Thanks to their elimination of rent control, disinterest in creating affordable housing, and willingness to let wealthy corporate landlords game the system, tenants are falling behind. The protections tenants are supposed to have aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on if corporations can use loopholes to go around them.”

“Locally I have heard from multiple tenants who essentially get penalized once their landlord finally fixes a broken elevator or updates a fire alarm system. The tenants are told that due to these “extra maintenance costs” they must cover the cost, and this is added to an already sky-high rent price. Doug Ford must ban Above Guideline Increases (AGIs) in buildings of six units or more and commit to making housing affordable for all Ontarians.

“Ontario is dealing with a current employment disaster, with 800,000 people out of work. The Conservatives have already made life unaffordable. Allowing large corporate landlords to offload basic repair and maintenance costs onto tenants while raking in profit is insult to injury. Many of these repairs are necessary for basic human rights to be met. Ford needs to tell corporate landlords that rent is more than enough to cover the costs of maintenance and close these loopholes that are used to hurt everyday Ontarians,” said MPP West.

BACKGROUND:

• Canada’s biggest and most profitable landlords are most frequently applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for AGIs. The tenants in Sudbury that are dealing with a landlord that is not local and owns multiple properties across the province.
• The Residential Tenancies Act states that landlords have an obligation to keep their properties in a state of good repair, using rent to pay for maintenance. However, many tenants complain of landlords ignoring their maintenance requests. Once the problems can no longer be avoided, the landlord applies for an AGI.
• AGIs often prioritize work like lobby renovations that increase the overall value of the building, without improving its living conditions.
• Fighting an AGI is extremely difficult for tenants. Corporate landlords have teams of lawyers and staff at their disposal. Tenants often do not have the resources to hire a paralegal or lawyer. Instead, they must organize on their own time and navigate confusing administrative procedures.
• The overwhelming majority of AGI applications are approved, leaving tenants feeling defeated and eventually priced out. A 2024 analysis by CBC found that of the 2,253 AGI applications they reviewed, 88% were granted.