Limits Rent Hikes and Creates Rent Registry

Summary#

This bill changes Ontario’s rental rules to limit sharp rent hikes and make renting more transparent. It brings all private rental homes under rent control, ties rent for new tenants to what the last tenant paid, and creates a public rent registry. It also adds protections around renovations and demolitions, and sets up a short-term task force to review rent hikes above the provincial cap.

• Extends rent control to units that were previously exempt, including newly built or newly occupied rentals.
• Limits the rent a landlord can charge a new tenant to about what the last tenant paid, with only allowed annual changes.
• Tightens “renoviction” rules: notices must include permits and an engineer’s letter, and tenants must get a temporary unit or be paid for a comparable place during repairs.
• Creates a province-wide rent registry run by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), with public info on addresses, rents, and landlord contact details.
• Lets the LTB refuse a landlord’s case if required rent information wasn’t filed; adds penalties for false or missing filings.
• Blocks cities from approving demolitions or conversions that remove 6+ rental homes unless units are replaced at similar rents and tenants get a relocation plan and right to return.
• Forms a “Rental Task Force” to study rent increases above the annual cap and recommend changes within six months.
• Most changes take effect four months after the bill becomes law.

What it means for you#

• Tenants

  • Annual rent caps would apply to all private rentals, including newer buildings.
  • When a unit turns over, the next rent must stay close to what the last tenant paid, not jump to a much higher price.
  • If you’re asked to move out for major repairs or renovations, the landlord must either offer you another acceptable unit during the work or pay you to cover the cost of a similar place (up to a set cap and not less than your old rent).
  • Eviction notices for demolition, conversion, or major repairs must include all required approvals and a letter from a licensed engineer saying a vacant unit is truly needed.
  • You can see your unit’s rent history in the rent registry and ask the LTB to set the maximum legal rent and order a refund if you were overcharged.
  • If a building with 6 or more rental units is redeveloped, you must be offered a right to return at a similar rent and receive relocation help.

• Prospective renters

  • You (or an authorized person) can view rent history for a unit you’ve applied to rent and compare it to what you’re being asked to pay.
  • Public data will show addresses, rents, and landlord contact details, helping you spot illegal or unusual rent jumps.

• Landlords

  • All units fall under rent control for annual increases. You cannot reset the rent far above the previous rent when a new tenant moves in.
  • You must file a rent statement with the LTB within 30 days of signing a lease and update it within 30 days of any rent change; give a copy to the tenant.
  • The LTB can pause or refuse your applications if you owe fees/fines or haven’t filed required rent information.
  • Providing false information or failing to file can lead to penalties.
  • To end a tenancy for repairs/renovations, you need permits and an engineer’s letter, and you must house the tenant temporarily or pay for a comparable place during the work.

• Developers and property owners planning demolition or conversion

  • Cities cannot approve projects that remove 6+ rental homes unless units are replaced one-for-one (same number, size, and type) at similar rents and a tenant relocation plan is in place with a right to return.
  • Projects may proceed without replacement only if all affected units have rents above “mid-range” (typical middle-of-the-market) at the time of application.

• Local governments (Toronto and other municipalities)

  • Must apply the new “residential replacement” rule to block approvals that remove 6+ rental units unless replacement and tenant assistance conditions are met.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Stops large rent hikes when a unit turns over, making rents more stable and predictable.
• Protects tenants from unfair renovictions by requiring real permits and an engineer’s sign-off, plus temporary housing or fair compensation.
• A public rent registry shines light on pricing, helps renters and watchdogs spot illegal increases, and supports better enforcement.
• Replacement rules keep lower-cost rentals from being lost to redevelopment and ensure tenants can return at similar rents.
• The task force can recommend fixes to rein in above-guideline rent increases (rent hikes above the province’s annual cap).
• Overall, keeps people housed and reduces the risk of sudden displacement.

Opponents' View#

• Tighter rent limits, including limits between tenancies, could reduce incentives to build new rentals or invest in major upgrades.
• New paperwork, public postings, and filing requirements add red tape and costs, especially for small landlords.
• Paying for temporary housing during renovations may discourage needed repairs or lead to fewer renovations.
• Replacement rules for demolitions/conversions could slow redevelopment and reduce overall housing supply.
• Public sharing of rent and landlord contact info may raise privacy and safety concerns.
• The LTB may face added workload from registry duties and rent challenges, which could strain already limited capacity.