ACORN Divides and Conquers! Kitchener & Waterloo Both Vote YES for Renoviction Bylaws and More Tenant Protections!
Posted June 24, 2025
LONDON— On Monday, June 24th, tenant power was on full display as Waterloo Region ACORN members pulled off a massive organizing feat — taking on TWO city councils in a one night!
While Kitchener City Council were discussing whether to move forward with drafting a renoviction bylaw, Waterloo City Council was voting on a wide range of crucial tenant protections, including enhanced landlord licensing, a rental replacement bylaw, and other ways to combat bad-faith evictions. The result?:
- Waterloo voted in favour of building a framework for a renoviction bylaw AND moving forward with other tenant protections like a rental replacement bylaw!
- Kitchener voted to draft a renoviction bylaw
“Divide and Conquer”: ACORN Shows Up Strong in Both Cities
With two major meetings happening at the same time, Waterloo Region ACORN members knew we had to be strategic! In Kitchener, members rallied outside City Hall, then packed the council chambers to demand that Council follow through on the committee’s earlier vote in favour of a renoviction bylaw. The final decision wasn’t unanimous— 6 voted yes, 3 no, and 2 abstained. But the motion still passed. Kitchener is officially drafting a renoviction bylaw. Staff are expected to report back in early 2026 with a proposed bylaw for Council to consider.
“The reason I supported this and moved the recommendation to support it, was because of the many compelling stories that we heard…it was clear to me that there were many people literally being put through hell”
“I do note one of the parties who hasn’t bothered to communicate with us in a significant way are the landlords. And I suspect that those who are not acting in an appropriate manner probably don’t want to come make their arguments in this venue because they know they probably wouldn’t be well received.”
This is why it’s so important to speak up for our rights! Landlords didn’t bother to show up, so councillors only heard the voices of tenants fighting for their rights!
In the City of Waterloo, ACORN members were delegating on two key reports: one focused on rental housing regulations, and one on eviction prevention and tenant supports. After hearing from several passionate delegates sharing their stories of being renovicted, Council also voted to begin building a framework for a renoviction bylaw in Waterloo! That means Waterloo staff will now start looking into how a bylaw could work, and report back with options.
Waterloo Council voted to approve a long list of new tenant protection measures, including:
- Starting work on a rental replacement bylaw, to protect tenants from bad-faith “demovictions” (evictions for demolishing a building).
- Strengthening landlord licensing rules for short term rentals.
- Creating an information package for tenants and landlords to understand their rights.
- Providing $30,000 in funding to local community organizations that help fight evictions.
- Exploring long-term funding to help non-profits buy up existing affordable rentals and preserve them long term.
- Exploring the possibility of a proactive apartment inspection program based on similar programs in other cities (like Toronto’s RentSafe program).
The Fight Isn’t Over— But We’re Winning!!
ACORN didn’t have these victories handed to them, we fought for it. ACORN has been organizing in the Kitchener-Waterloo region, hosting workshops, knocking on doors, making hundreds of phone calls and forcing tenant issues onto the political agenda at city council. And when both cities tried to say “wait,” ACORN members made it clear: we’ve waited long enough.
Cities are finally recognizing that they can’t afford to keep turning a blind eye to displacement and housing precarity. But these votes are not the finish line, they’re motivation to keep going.
- In Kitchener, we’ll be holding Council and staff accountable to deliver a strong, enforceable bylaw that truly stops renovictions.
- In Waterloo, we’ll be watching to ensure the framework for a renoviction bylaw becomes reality. And pushing for timelines, enforcement, and community consultation!
And across Waterloo Region, we’ll continue building power with tenants to ensure everyone has a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.
Want to get involved?
- Come out to the next ACORN chapter meeting near you to hear more about what we’re working on! Email [email protected] for details!
- Join ACORN today! Be part of the movement that’s changing the game for tenants in Waterloo Region!!