SUPPORT SERVICES
For tenants:
- The Tenant Defence Fund assists tenants to challenge rent increases above the guideline, demolitions or condo conversions.
- An education program helps tenants understand the current Residential Tenancies Act and its impacts.
- The Tenant Hotline answers queries and informs tenants of their rights and responsibilities. More than 9,000 callers are assisted every year.
- Housing Help Services assist people to find and keep housing. About 17,750 households are served every year.
For tenants and landlords:
- The Rent Bank and the Emergency Rental Deposit Loan Program provide no-interest loans to people who face eviction for rental arrears or require first and last month's rent to move to more affordable housing.
- The Services for Tenants and Landlords in Toronto brochure provides helpful contact information about subjects such as legal aid clinics and property standards.
- An annual rent reduction program notifies landlords and tenants of rent reductions when their buildings have a tax decrease between two consecutive years, delivered in partnership with the City's Revenue Services Division.
For landlords:
- Landlordconnect.ca provides landlords with a discussion forum and online listing services for vacant affordable units, as well as connecting landlords with housing workers and housing follow-up services.
- The Landlord Self Help Centre is a non-profit legal clinic serving small landlords.
- Various workshops and information tables are organized to inform landlords of City services and community organizations.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
The City coordinates two community networks:
The Rental Housing Advisory Committee (RHAC) for community agencies and advocacy organizations for landlords and tenants: Contact Gwynne Cheung.
The Rooming House Working Group (RHWG) for community agencies and rooming house residents and owners who support the maintenance, improvement and expansion of rooming houses. Focus is on legal, well run rooming houses and training for landlords. Contact Rosemary Foulds.
POLICY, RESEARCH AND REPORTS
Research is ongoing that informs development of City services for tenants and landlords, and City responses to legislation affecting rental housing. Community agencies and other City divisions contributed to many of the reports and resource materials. Policy and research affecting landlords and tenants can be found at: Research & Reports.
