Rental Housing Demolition

The Rental Housing Demolition & Replacement Handbook and Brochure provide a guide for tenants and property owners involved in the rental housing demolition and replacement process.

     

    Developments that propose to demolish existing rental housing are required to provide tenant assistance and, in certain cases, replacement rental housing. The City reviews development applications against the Rental Housing Demolition and Conversion Control By-law (Ch. 667 of the Toronto Municipal Code) and the Toronto Official Plan policies related to the demolition of existing rental housing.

    If at least 1 rental unit is proposed for demolition, the property owner is required to provide tenant assistance.

    If 6 or more rental units are proposed for demolition, the property owner is required to provide tenant assistance and eligible tenants have a right to return to a replacement rental unit of the same type, similar size, and similar rent as their existing rental unit.

     

    • If a development application has been submitted for your address, you do not need to move out right away. The application review process can take months.
    • If you moved into your current rental unit before the rental housing demolition application was submitted, you are eligible for tenant assistance and a replacement rental unit, in certain cases.
    • If you moved into your current rental unit after the rental housing demolition application was submitted and you signed a lease addendum, you are only eligible for compensation under the provincial Residential Tenancies Act.
    • If the development application is approved, the tenant assistance plan and replacement rental units will be secured through a legal agreement that binds current and future property owners.
    • If you have questions about your rights as a tenant in Toronto, reach out to the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations at 416-921-9494.
    • For more information about a development application, enter the building address into the City’s Development Application Information Centre.

    For developments that propose to demolish at least 1 rental unit, the City requires property owners to provide the following Tenant Assistance Plan for all tenants whose leases started before the development application was submitted:

    • At least 6 months’ notice to vacate;
    • Compensation as required by the Residential Tenancies Act;
    • Rent gap compensation;
    • Moving allowance;
    • Access to a leasing agent; and
    • Additional compensation for tenants who are 65 years of age or older, or have a significant mental or physical health condition.

    Tenants whose leases started after the development application was submitted and who were notified of the development proposal at the time of lease signing are only eligible for the compensation required by the provincial Residential Tenancies Act.

    For developments that propose to demolish 6 or more rental units, tenants whose leases started before the development application was submitted are eligible for a replacement rental unit.

    Replacement rental units are expected to be of the same bedroom type, similar size, and similar rent as each tenant’s original unit.

    The Rental Housing Demolition & Replacement Handbook and Brochure are available in the following languages:

    • Arabic
    • Chinese (simplified, traditional)
    • Tagalog
    • Tamil

    Please reach out to communitypolicy@toronto.ca to request a translated copy of the handbook or brochure.
    Date modified: October 29, 2026