Ontario opposition parties promise more rent control. Here's what Hamilton, Niagara voters think
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All three of Ontario's main opposition parties vow to expand rent control — a promise that would give voters on fixed incomes like Terri Millstone peace of mind.
For three years, the 71-year-old St. Catharines retiree and her partner have been renting a townhouse built after 2018. That means, under Ontario rules, her landlord can increase rent by any amount.
"We are at his mercy," Millstone told CBC Hamilton.
"We have no guarantee as seniors that we will always be able to afford it."
So far, she's been able to take the annual increases in stride, but sees how other residents in the Niagara region are struggling — something she's keenly aware of ahead of voting in the Feb. 27 provincial election.
Millstone said she also wants to see more provincial investments in social supports so people can find stability in their lives and afford housing, rather than the government trying to spur developers to build more homes or supply them at below-market rent.
"We're trying to convince developers, who are in a profit business, to give away something — that's not going to happen," Millstone said. "It's just absolutely crazy making to me."
After Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford was first elected in 2018, he rolled back rent controls on all units built or occupied after Nov. 15 of that year in an effort to encourage developers to construct more purpose-built rentals.
The results were mixed, with an initial spurt of activity followed by stagnation amid the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation rates and a labour shortage.
'I live in fear,' says Hamilton renter
Recently, rent prices have decreased across Ontario — down 5.2 per cent in January compared to the year before, according to Rentals.ca. But Ontario continues to have the second highest average monthly rent at $2,329, slightly less than B.C.
As of January, the average rent in St. Catharines was $1,860 and in Hamilton $1,916, the website says.
In an effort to make renting more affordable, Ontario New Democrats, Liberals and Greens all pledge to expand rent control for new builds. The NDP and Greens also want to limit the amount landlords can increase rent between tenants.
Marnie Schurter, who lives on Hamilton Mountain, said she's intent on staying in her rent-controlled apartment as long as possible. Retired and living on a limited budget, she pays $937 a month, well below market rent.
She spoke to CBC Hamilton at an ACORN rally outside city hall last week. She co-chairs the tenant advocacy group's Mountain chapter and said she's fighting to stop landlords from being allowed to "jack up prices."
"I live in fear that maybe my building will be taken over by a landlord that decides to renovate" and evict tenants in the process, Schurter said.
"I can't afford market price."
She hopes the next provincial government will improve proceedings at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), where both parties go to solve disputes, and bolster tenant rights to stop illegal evictions.
Schurter said she also wants landlords to be held more accountable for building conditions "so people don't have to live in hell holes because the landlord is too greedy to take care of them."
Chris Erie, who also attended the rally and rents in downtown Hamilton, voiced similar concerns and called for the province to step up beyond sending out rebate cheques to all Ontario residents.
"If they want our vote, do something," she said. "Don't hand out $200 cheques and expect us to be happy."
What political parties say they'll do for renters
Here's what party representatives or leaders have promised so far:
PCs:
Have held rental increase guideline at 2.5 per cent for last two years — below average inflation. (The guideline is the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent annually on rent-controlled units without having to apply to the LTB.)
Taken steps to "make life easier, stabler and more predictable for tenants and landlords alike."
"Lay groundwork" for long-term housing supply growth.
Liberals:
Introduce phased-in rent control.
Ensure LTB resolves disputes within two months.
Establish an emergency support fund for renters to avoid evictions in financial emergencies.
NDP:
Expand rent control to include units built after 2018 and between tenancies.
End above-guideline rent increases.
"Beef up" rules to protect tenants from renovictions, demovictions and wrongful evictions.
Build or acquire at least 300,000 affordable rental homes.
Green Party:
Expand rent control to all buildings, including those built after 2018.
Reinstate vacancy control to limit rent increases between tenancies.
Increase requirements for landlords looking to renovict tenants.
Ensure buildings with six or more units that are to be demolished are replaced with similar housing.
Create "rental registry" maintained by the LTB.
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