Bell: Ontario must crackdown on illegal short-term rentals

TORONTO – Official Opposition NDP Housing critic Jessica Bell (University–Rosedale) joined tenants and advocates today to announce her legislative motion to stop predatory landlords evicting tenants and converting rental apartments into short-term rentals.

“Ford’s Conservatives are not serious about addressing Ontario’s housing crisis.” said Bell. “They’re jumping from one corruption crisis to another while tenants like those in 30 Charles St. East are at risk of losing their homes.”

The new corporate landlord of 30 Charles St East has been harassing long term tenants, and converting empty apartments into short-term rentals, where people pay exorbitant weekly rates for just a room.

"People looking for permanent housing in our city are forced to resort to short-term rental homes run by investors who want all the profit, but none of the responsibility to provide stability to their tenants or follow the law. This is unacceptable,” said Bell.

“Quebec has just implemented a strong provincial short-term rental law, and BC exploring doing something similar. To help renters keep their homes, it’s time for Ontario to follow suit.”

Bell’s motion will call on the provincial government to set up a short-term rental registry and restrict short-term and mid-term rentals to a person’s primary residence in areas with low vacancy rates – including Ottawa, Toronto, Kingston, Kitchener, Waterloo and London.

“Our province has a housing affordability crisis, and we must take every practical measure to make housing affordable for Ontarians again. Cracking down on short-term rentals in investment properties one way we can make renting more affordable and stable.”