Tenants

Ward 22 has the highest percentage of tenants in Toronto. I am committed to working closely with tenants and the provincial government to restore real rent control to curb spiralling apartment rates.

I also understand that the relationship between a tenant and a landlord can often be difficult and confusing. If you rent an apartment or house you have special rights and responsibilities that are governed by City of Toronto by-laws and provincial legislation. Tenants have the right to live in a clean, well-maintained building and not be subjected to rent increases above the provincially mandated increase without reasonable justification, or eviction without a fair hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
The following contact information is for various organizations and agencies that are able to assist you with information, advice and support if you encounter any issues related to your tenancy. As always, please feel free to contact my office for help with any issue related to yourapartment or rental agreement.

City of Toronto Municipal Licensing and Standards: 311 (toronto.ca/311)
Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants’ Associations: (416) 921-9494
Ontario Tenants Rights
Housing Connections (TCHC): (416) 981-6111
Toronto Rent Bank: (416) 924-2543
Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board: (416) 645-8080

6 07, 2018

Affordable Housing Crisis

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T14:46:36+00:00Tags: housing, tenants, waitlist|

Toronto is in the midst of a housing crisis. This issue was unfortunately made painfully evident during a record-breaking cold snap this past holiday season. The City was not prepared to provide shelter for the growing number of our most vulnerable residents when they needed it most. This completely unacceptable situation was entirely preventable. My [...]

28 05, 2018

St. Paul’s Riding All Candidates Meeting: Tenants & Affordable Housing

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T20:59:26+00:00Tags: tenants|

The Toronto St. Paul’s Tenants’ Associations Network will be holding the St. Paul’s Riding All Candidates Meeting where you will have the opportunity to learn where your Provincial candidates stand on today’s tenant issues such as Above Guideline Increases (AGIs), Renovictions, the Landlord and Tenant Board and affordable housing. Please join me in attending this [...]

28 05, 2018

City Must Act to Protect Toronto Tenants from Extreme Heat

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T20:55:43+00:00Tags: heating by-law, tenants|

Since 2012, I have been strongly advocating for the City of Toronto to protect tenants from extreme heat. Despite motions that I moved in 2012, 2013, 2014 and, 2017, no substantive action has been implemented by the Medical Officer of Health or the Municipal Licensing, and Standards Division. No solutions were presented to Tenant Issues Committee earlier this year [...]

6 04, 2018

Standing up for Tenants

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T20:28:05+00:00Tags: affordable housing, agi, tenants|

Rental Market Reality As many of you know, there is a rental housing crisis in Toronto. Vacancy rates have been hovering around 1% in the past year and very few of the limited apartments available are affordable. That’s why I asked City Planning Staff to bring a report on current rental housing market conditions in Toronto. Planning [...]

2 02, 2018

Protecting Tenants’ Rights – Important Meeting of the Tenant Issues Committee

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T20:22:30+00:00Tags: heating by-law, rentsafe, tenants|

As Chair of the City's Tenant Issues Committee, I advocate for renters across Toronto. Please feel welcome to attend our next meeting on Friday February 9th at 1:30pm in Committee Room 2 at City Hall where we will be looking at critical issues affecting housing in our city. I have provided the Agenda items below for your review. [...]

16 11, 2017

Toronto-St. Paul’s Summit on Affordable Housing

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T19:34:41+00:00Tags: affordable housing, tenants|

Every Canadian deserves affordable and accessible housing, and all levels of government must work together to meet this goal. Please join me and the other elected officials of Toronto-St. Paul’s riding and share your questions, concerns, and ideas on this issue, and let’s work together to ensure the housing needs of our community are met. [...]

6 10, 2017

Protecting Midtown Tenants from Extreme Heat

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T18:49:32+00:00Tags: heating by-law, tenants|

Earlier this year, many Midtown tenants suffered during a late September heatwave. Some residents reported temperature readings of over 30 degrees Celsius in their units as a result of their landlords turning on heat and/or not turning on air conditioning. I first moved a Council motion in 2012 to protect our community's renters from the [...]

24 08, 2017

Groundbreaking Tenant Protection Legislation Passes Final Hurdle

Josh Matlow2017-08-24T18:38:14+00:00

As Chair of the Tenants Issues Committee, I am very pleased to report that my colleagues supported our new Tenant Protection by-law to provide much needed protection for Toronto renters. The provisions in the by-law will be in force by July of this year. This success was the result of years of hard work with local tenant [...]

1 05, 2017

Province Announces Measures to Cool Toronto’s Housing Market

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T17:46:32+00:00Tags: affordable housing, tenants|

Also in last week's budget, the provincial government introduced a number of measures they hope will cool down Toronto's housing market. One of these measures is a 15% Non-Resident Speculation Tax (NRST) on non-Canadian citizens, non-permanent residents and non-Canadian corporations buying residential properties containing one to six units in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH). Other [...]

1 05, 2017

Province Introduces Legislation to End Unlimited Rent Increases in Apartments Built After 1991

Josh Matlow2018-07-06T17:54:34+00:00Tags: affordable housing, agi, tenants|

The longstanding issues with the province's 1991 rental loophole allowing unlimited increases have recently been exacerbated by landlords taking advantage of Toronto's overheated housing market by doubling rents in some cases. After a long campaign by the Federation of Metro Toronto Tenants Associations, ACORN, ACTO, my office and many others, I want to commend the provincial government for introducing [...]

Councillor Josh Matlow

Main Navigation

Your Community Advocate