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Surrey has long had many affordable options for one-, two- and three-bedroom townhomes or apartment units for families, individuals on fixed incomes or new immigrants. But now, the older buildings are being redeveloped for condo buildings where the monthly rent is two-to-three times higher than what residents previously paid, says the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), a tenancy rights advocacy group. In Surrey now, residents in 3,886 affordable rental units are at risk of “demovictions” due to their proximity to transit hubs and areas with high development, which is nearly 30 per cent of the city’s purpose-built rental housing stock, according to ACORN.

London ACORN members gathered at Victoria Park for a “Slumlord of the Year” award ceremony. The event is aimed at highlighting some of what advocates are calling “the worst landlords in the city. What we are really after is to protect our quality of life,” said Jordan Smith with ACORN London. “And our standard of living.” Many tenants said they are experiencing unsafe housing, pest infestations, leaks, mold and crumbling infrastructure.

Above guideline rent increases are the most “regressive” way to fund green retrofits in rental housing, a new report from Ontario ACORN argues. The report from the tenant union spells out how some landlords have used above-guideline rent increases (AGIs) to pass the cost of climate-conscious upgrades on to tenants and make a profit. “ACORN members agree these retrofits are needed and at a much greater scale. However, it shouldn’t be low-income tenants paying the bill so we can achieve our climate goals,” the report says.
The report looks at 16 applications to raise rents above the provincial maximum for rent-controlled units to cover the cost of energy and water conservation projects — including things like new boilers, windows and doors, lighting retrofits and common area renovations.

The red, yellow and green signs, similar to the easily recognizable ones posted in restaurants to show public health violations, were first debated a few years ago, as part of the city’s RentSafe program. Tenant groups backs the move, along with ACORN, the Federation of Metro Tenants Associations (FMTA) and NoDemovictions. Alejandra Ruiz Vargas, chair of the East York Chapter and National President of Acorn Canada, said they have heard from tenants about long-ignored issues such as cockroaches, leaky ceilings and broken sinks. “We want the landlords to be held accountable,” she said. “This is something that is going to give us dignity, because we finally feel that someone is listening to us.”

Brampton is reviewing a proposed bylaw to protect the city’s supply of rental housing. City staff presented a draft bylaw at Monday evening’s planning and development committee meeting and will present a final recommendation report at a future meeting, likely by the end of the year. But the Peel chapter of ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) says the proposed bylaw doesn’t go far enough to protect tenants. Peel ACORN leader Tanya Burkart said the city’s proposed bylaw could create loopholes for developers. “We’re grateful that the city has recognized that tenants need protection when the buildings are demolished,” she said in an interview Tuesday. “But we need an effective bylaw that takes meaningful steps towards protecting tenants, not just the right to return, but protects them against the financial impact of losing their affordable housing.” The organization held a rally Monday evening, just before the start of the planning and development committee meeting.

Brampton is considering bringing in rules to preserve rental housing, but a tenant advocacy group is urging the city to do more. The city believes the new measures are necessary because of the minimal increase in new rental projects and to maintain the current stock of apartments. At a planning committee scheduled for tonight, councillors will look at implementing a bylaw that would force developers to maintain low-cost rental housing instead of demolishing and replacing the affordable units with luxury condominiums. However, ACORN, a group that fights on behalf of tenants, says that recommendations don’t go far enough and that more protection is needed for those currently living in rental housing, many of whom will either be displaced if existing buildings are replaced or will not be able to afford to live in new buildings.