E-Blast: Making Renters’ Voices Heard in Don Valley North

Not long ago, I met a Don Valley North resident who had just moved into a condo unit as a renter. When a leak started in their kitchen ceiling, they weren’t sure where to turn. Was it the condo board’s job? The property manager’s? The individual condo owner who was their landlord? It was stressful and confusing, especially because they were still settling into a new home.

Stories like this are common. Too often, when the media talks about housing in Toronto, the focus is on homeowners, usually those living in single-family houses. But that doesn’t reflect the reality for almost half our city. According to the 2021 census, about 48% of Toronto households were renters, and that share has only been growing.

Here in Don Valley North, 43% of residents rent their homes. Some live in traditional rental apartments, or single family homes, while others, like the neighbour I spoke with rent their homes from condo owners. The rules, responsibilities, and supports can vary widely, which is why so many renters aren’t sure where to go when problems arise. That’s why I want to make sure renters’ needs are reflected in City policies, and that you have access to clear, practical support.

Tenant Town Hall – September 17

To help cut through the confusion, my team and I are hosting a Tenant Town Hall on Tuesday, September 17^th from 7:00 to 8:30 PM. Whether you rent in a high-rise, a mid-rise, or a condo, you have a commercial landlord or you rent from an individual, you’ll find practical advice and connections to the services that matter.

We’ll have experts on hand, including Willowdale Legal, the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, North York Toronto Health Partners, RentSafeTO, Toronto Fire Services, and Division 33 Police.

You’ll also be able to pick up our Winter Tenant Guide, a resource created by my office to give tenants clear, simple information on everything from temperature rules to who you can call when you need help.

Attending this town hall is also a chance to learn more about some of the big changes City Council has made for renters this year:

• Stronger RentSafeTO inspections and public signs: Soon, buildings will display colour-coded inspection results (green, yellow, red), modeled after the DineSafe program. This will give tenants a clear picture of building conditions and put public pressure on landlords to fix problems quickly. The City is also reworking its scoring system so health and safety issues carry more weight, and landlords who ignore by-law violations can now face stronger fines.

• Indoor Temperature accountability: After hearing from Don Valley North tenants struggling in extreme heat, I pushed Council to modernize Toronto’s outdated heating and cooling rules. Now, landlords can turn off heat earlier in the spring, must keep air conditioning running longer in the summer, and—most importantly—Council has endorsed a new maximum indoor temperature of 26°C. Later this year, staff will report back on how to make this new health-based standard a reality.

These are important wins for renters, but they only work if people know their rights and know where to turn when things go wrong. That’s exactly what the town hall is all about.

Join us

If you’ve ever wondered who’s responsible for fixing that leak, what to do when your unit gets too hot or too cold, or how the City enforces property standards, this event is for you. We’ll cover the programs and bylaws designed to protect tenants and connect you with the organizations that can back you up when you need support.

Please mark your calendar and RSVP here to join us on September 17th. Together, we can make sure every renter in Don Valley North feels safe, supported, and valued in their home.

Read the Full E-Blast Here