The drastic increase in the pricing of housing in Ontario has caught the attention of not only potential home buyers and sellers but that of politicians. However, a third of Ontarians are renters, and rent is following the same trends as home purchases. Will Ontario’s main parties react to this rent increase?
Rent Control Issues
While housing costs are a concern for residents, it’s especially hard for lower income communities. A prime example is the northwest Toronto neighbourhood of Jane and Firgrove. Here rent control becomes the line between paying rent or buying groceries. Rent control is currently capped at 1.2 percent for rental units built before 2018. However, landlords of older buildings can still apply to increase rent above the provincial guideline given that repairs or renovations have taken place. When renters can barely afford to make ends meet, an unseen increase in rent can send them into social housing. When addressing the housing market, it’s imperative that politicians remember renters too.
The Toronto Community Housing Corporation chose to demolish some parts of community housing. Some will be replaced but hundreds of market units will also be built in the area, as an attempt to “revitalize the community.” Renters are worried about being pushed out or priced out. “How are you going to keep this type of community, the character of the community,” asks one concerned resident. What will happen without rent control in place if it’s not made a priority? The city will see more and more homeless with more funding needing to go to food banks and shelters.
Main Parties Campaigns in Regards to Renters
So, will Ontario’s main parties react to this rent increase that is so worrisome to the community?
Progressive Conservatives
The “More Homes for Everyone” plan was released in March. However, this plan does little to nothing to directly lower the cost of renting. In the 2022 budget, the Progressive Conservatives committed $19.2 million over the next three years to the Ontario Land Tribunal as well as the Landlord and Tenant Board. This comes in hopes of resolving cases faster and addressing the significant backlog.
Liberals
The Liberals have a plan to bring back rent control in order to provide stability to renters who will know the maximum potential increase in their rent. They also promise a plan to create a path for renters to become owners and opt into rent-to-own agreements. No further details are provided on this agenda. Similar to the Conservatives, they plan to spend an additional $15 million annually to clear up backlogs at the Ontario Land Tribunal and Landlord and Tenant Board. The party’s housing plan also aims to build 1.5 million new homes over the next ten years to put downward pressure on rents. Lastly, the party says it will focus on student housing.
NDP
I think the NDP has an interesting approach to the issue. They plan to bring back a guarantee “that you pay what the last tenant paid.” They also pledge to provide income assistance to 311,000 households. Similar to the last two parties, the NDP pledged to end the backlog of cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board. However, I’d like to note, that were are no additional details on how they will go about this.
Greens
The main addition coming from this party that has not already been mentioned is their pledge of stricter rules in terms of renovations and bad faith evictions, which includes a clear system on what renovations can justify rent increases.
Which party’s plan seems the most reasonable for the current situation we are facing? How likely is it that renters will see a break and some sort of security in the upcoming years?
To view this full article, visit Rent is going up. Here’s what Ontario’s main parties say they’ll do about it (yahoo.com).
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