February 25, 2021
TORONTO — The NDP's Tenant Rights critic Jessica Bell (University—Rosedale) called on the Ford government to address the skyrocketing numbers of above guideline rent hikes being allowed in Toronto, especially by corporate landlords.
Bell was responding to a report released Thursday by the group RenovictionsTO that shows applications from landlords for above guideline increases (AGI) to rent have increased by 250 per cent in the past six years. Over 84 per cent of AGI applications were from corporate, rather than mom-and-pop landlords.
"Tens of thousands of Toronto tenants have been struggling to pay rent, through no fault of their own, due to lost income or wages during the pandemic," Bell said. "Tenants have faced ever-increasing rents in this city long before COVID-19, with thousands impacted by unfair renovictions, and peoples' salaries stagnating while rents go up and up.
Doug Ford cancelled rent control on new units as soon as he came into office, and he has refused to ban residential evictions for the duration of the pandemic.
The government must stop putting the interests of corporate landlords over regular Ontarians trying to pay the rent."
Jessica Bell and the NDP will continue pushing for a comprehensive moratorium on all evictions for the duration of the pandemic.
The NDP is also calling for large landlords to properly maintain their buildings, tougher protections against illegal evictions, and the construction of more homes people can afford.