Item - 2026.PH32.19
Tracking Status
- This item was considered by Planning and Housing Committee on July 16, 2026 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on July 29, 30 and 31, 2026.
PH32.19 - Protecting Tenants from Fraudulent Evictions
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Caution: Motions are shown below. Any motions should not be considered final until the meeting is complete, and the decisions for this meeting have been confirmed.
Recommendations
Councillor Josh Matlow recommends that:
1. Planning and Housing Committee request the City Manager and Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards to report to the Planning and Housing Committee no later than Q2 2027 on the feasibility of increasing the authority and jurisdiction of RentSafe officers to:
a. identify potential fraud in the residential rental sector and compile evidence to support the initiation of criminal investigations by the Toronto Police Services; and
b. identify and investigate potential breaches of the Residential Tenancies Act.
Origin
Summary
I am writing to request your support to have staff explore opportunities to leverage RentSafe officers to identify and compile evidence of criminal conduct and violations of the Residential Tenancies Act.
For too long, corporate crime has been treated as an administrative matter. This is particularly evident in how Ontario treats fraud in the residential rental sector.
When a resident faces a fraudulent eviction, the resident is left to do their own investigation, collect their own evidence, and hire their own lawyer in order to hold the landlord accountable.
The consequences of this type of fraud are significant. On top of the stress and cost of moving, the Housing Secretariat reports that as of Fall 2025, tenants forced to leave a 2-bedroom apartment will pay an additional 25.7% or $525 per month on average for a new unit.
This criminal behaviour is often systemic, repeated and done with impunity, as landlords know that they can afford to fight at the Landlord and Tenant Board when often their tenants cannot.
This is not how we treat other crimes. If someone is caught stealing from a grocery store, Loblaws can call the police; they won’t need to figure out the right forms to fill out, they won’t need to hire a lawyer, and they won’t have to pay a filing fee. They might not even need to show up in court, meanwhile a tenant might be forced to take valuable time away from work to pursue their claim.
Corporate crime is crime, and it should be treated as such. This motion seeks to identify opportunities to leverage RentSafe officers to identify and compile evidence of criminal conduct and violations of the Residential Tenancies Act, which can then be pursued by municipal or provincial law enforcement as appropriate.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/bgrd/backgroundfile-289046.pdf
Communications
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-217185.pdf
(July 14, 2026) Letter from Douglas Kwan, Director of Advocacy and Legal Services, Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-217240.pdf
(July 15, 2026) Submission from Cheryll Case, Founder and Executive Director, Community in Public (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-216087.pdf
(July 15, 2026) E-mail from Morgan Miya (PH.New)
(July 15, 2026) Letter from Gian Pileri (PH.New)
(July 16, 2026) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (PH.New)
(July 16, 2026) E-mail from Arnold Margulis (PH.New)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2026/ph/comm/communicationfile-217281.pdf
Speakers
Gian Pileri
Motions
1. Delete the Recommendation in the letter and replace it with the following:
1. The Planning and Housing Committee direct the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat, in consultation with the City Solicitor, to review the possibility of the City collecting information and making referrals related to landlord fraud and negligence;
2. The Planning and Housing Committee request the City Manager, the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, and the Executive Director, Housing Secretariat to consult with legal aid clinics, tenant advocacy organizations, and housing rights experts on opportunities for the City to support tenants in pursuing violations of their legal rights and recommendations for the Provincial government to improve access to justice for tenants; and
3. The Planning and Housing Committee request a report back to the Planning and Housing Committee as part of the next update on the RentSafeTO program.