"The Ford government introduced a new housing bill on Thursday that it says would streamline approvals and let developers build homes more quickly. But buried in the legislation is a proposal for "alternative options to lease expiry rules that could allow landlords to control who occupies their units and for how long," including through adjustments to rental arrangements based on market conditions, personal needs or business strategies, according to the province's briefing slides Thursday."
"Housing advocates say if passed, the legislation will hurt long-term renters and vulnerable tenants, like seniors and students, across Ontario. Everybody's panicking. This is not the solution for affordable housing," said Stacey Semple, a volunteer organizer with Acorn, a non-profit organization that advocates for various social justice issues, including affordable housing. "He is taking rights away from tenants," she said, referring to Ford. "The landlords are getting free passes to evict long-term tenants, especially because they want to collect more rent because it's more economically viable."
"There are plenty of signs these days that we are in a renters' market. Industry watchers say 2023 was peak pricing, with an average rent for a one-bedroom hovering around $2,500 a month. Last year, that started to change, in part due to an increased housing supply, a softening job market and fewer people moving to the province. Incentives even started popping up on renters' websites."
The Ford government introduced a housing bill aimed at streamlining approvals and accelerating home construction. The legislation includes a proposal for alternative lease expiry rules that could let landlords control occupancy and lease duration, with adjustments tied to market conditions, personal needs or business strategies. Advocates warn the changes could undermine security of tenure and harm long-term and vulnerable renters, including seniors and students. Market context shows 2023 peak rents for one-bedrooms near $2,500, with recent softening due to increased supply, a cooling job market and reduced migration into the province.
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