Liberal rental loopholes see families pushed out of their homes

On Tuesday, Toronto-Danforth NDP MPP Peter Tabuns issued a statement following tenant advocates calling on the Wynne Liberals to end unaffordable rent increases:

“Kathleen Wynne is letting down families who are at risk of being priced out of their own neighbourhoods. Tenants across the GTHA are now resorting to rent strikes to push back against corporate landlords who are effectively forcing lower income renters to finance their own evictions by saddling them with unaffordable costs whose main purpose is to squeeze them out, so the landlord can then raise the rent to whatever they wish.

The Wynne government voted against NDP amendments to Bill 124 that would have protected tenants from unreasonable above-guideline increases. Her government also voted against an NDP amendment that would have stopped landlords from seeking an above-guideline increase while there are outstanding repair orders. This would have stopped landlords from using unethical tactics to put pressure on tenants to move out.

Tenants should not have to resort to rent strikes in order to be treated fairly by their landlords or their government. It’s time for a government that understands how hard it is to make rent each month and has a plan to do something about it. Andrea Horwath and the NDP will put families at the centre of affordable housing and close loopholes that allow unreasonable rent increases. We’ll fix inclusionary zoning and repair our crumbling social housing units so that all families have a place to call home. It’s time to restore hope for families struggling to afford to stay in their community and re-ignite the dream of one day owning their own home.”