Toronto has long been a battleground between investors who want to make a lot of money and renters who just want a home.
Right now, there are over 12,000 short-term rentals advertised on Airbnb available to rent for 28 days or more. Airbnb and companies like it are listing these homes for 28 days or more to avoid complying with Toronto’s new short-term rental law.
In doing so, I believe these companies are violating the Residential Tenancies Act because these tenants do not sign the standard Ontario lease, which is required by law. Instead, tenants are treated like disposable guests who can be evicted at a landlords whim. In Ontario, tenants cannot and should not be treated like this.
In response, I have introduced a motion where, if passed, the Government of Ontario must establish a provincial short-term rental registry and restrict short-term rentals and mid-term rentals to a person's primary residence in areas with a rental vacancy rate of 5% or less.
Tell Doug Ford that we must crack down on illegal short-term rentals and create a regulated market for safe, affordable, and secure housing.