Ontario’s rental housing market has faced growing pressure over the past several years, with rising demand, limited supply, and a backlog of cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). To address these challenges, the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) has released a set of recommendations aimed at modernizing the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and improving the overall rental system across the province.
These proposals focus on three key areas: updating rental legislation, improving the LTB, and supporting the development of new housing.
Updating Rental Legislation
The Residential Tenancies Act was established in 2006, and nearly two decades later, the rental landscape has changed dramatically. OREA recommends creating modern legislation that reflects today’s realities, starting with clearer processes and enforcement measures.
One notable suggestion is to establish a dedicated N12 eviction process. An N12 is the notice issued when a buyer intends to move into a purchased property or when a landlord or their family member plans to occupy a unit. The recommendation calls for faster timelines and reduced delays, while also strengthening monitoring and penalties to prevent bad-faith N12 evictions.
Additionally, the proposals include developing accessible educational resources to help both landlords and tenants understand their rights and responsibilities under the RTA, ensuring a fairer and more transparent system for everyone involved.
Another key legislative area is rent control. Currently, rent control rules differ for properties occupied before or after November 15, 2018. The proposed reforms suggest a phased-in approach that balances tenant protections with incentives to encourage new rental supply, addressing long-standing debates about affordability and availability.
Improving the Landlord and Tenant Board
The backlog of cases at the LTB has created months-long delays, frustrating both tenants and landlords. OREA recommends a series of steps to make the board more efficient and accessible.
These include restoring in-person hearings as the default rather than relying primarily on digital hearings, improving legal aid support for tenants, and removing financial barriers for good-faith maintenance complaints.
A screening process for applications could help identify errors early and reduce wasted time, while expanding mediation services may resolve disputes faster. The plan also emphasizes improving adjudicator training, recruitment, and retention to build a stronger and more consistent decision-making body.
Supporting New Housing Supply
To address the root issue of limited housing availability, the proposals call for measures that encourage new rental construction and maintenance of existing units.
These include:
On a larger scale, the plan suggests investing in the construction of 99,000 community housing units over the next 10 years, which would help meet growing demand in rapidly expanding markets.
Why These Changes Matter
Ontario’s rental system affects millions of people, from long-term tenants to first-time landlords. Lengthy delays, inconsistent processes, and limited housing options have made it increasingly difficult to navigate. These proposed reforms aim to create a system that is faster, fairer, and more sustainable for everyone involved.
While not every recommendation may be adopted, the discussion itself is important. Modernizing the RTA, improving the LTB, and supporting new housing construction could collectively reduce backlogs, improve access to housing, and stabilize rental costs across the province.
These proposals focus on three key areas: updating rental legislation, improving the LTB, and supporting the development of new housing.
Updating Rental Legislation
The Residential Tenancies Act was established in 2006, and nearly two decades later, the rental landscape has changed dramatically. OREA recommends creating modern legislation that reflects today’s realities, starting with clearer processes and enforcement measures.
One notable suggestion is to establish a dedicated N12 eviction process. An N12 is the notice issued when a buyer intends to move into a purchased property or when a landlord or their family member plans to occupy a unit. The recommendation calls for faster timelines and reduced delays, while also strengthening monitoring and penalties to prevent bad-faith N12 evictions.
Additionally, the proposals include developing accessible educational resources to help both landlords and tenants understand their rights and responsibilities under the RTA, ensuring a fairer and more transparent system for everyone involved.
Another key legislative area is rent control. Currently, rent control rules differ for properties occupied before or after November 15, 2018. The proposed reforms suggest a phased-in approach that balances tenant protections with incentives to encourage new rental supply, addressing long-standing debates about affordability and availability.
Improving the Landlord and Tenant Board
The backlog of cases at the LTB has created months-long delays, frustrating both tenants and landlords. OREA recommends a series of steps to make the board more efficient and accessible.
These include restoring in-person hearings as the default rather than relying primarily on digital hearings, improving legal aid support for tenants, and removing financial barriers for good-faith maintenance complaints.
A screening process for applications could help identify errors early and reduce wasted time, while expanding mediation services may resolve disputes faster. The plan also emphasizes improving adjudicator training, recruitment, and retention to build a stronger and more consistent decision-making body.
Supporting New Housing Supply
To address the root issue of limited housing availability, the proposals call for measures that encourage new rental construction and maintenance of existing units.
These include:
- Reducing government-imposed costs on new rental projects
- Streamlining the permit process
- Supporting innovative and affordable housing models
- Exploring legislative support for rent-to-own programs
- Offering tax incentives to small landlords who add new rental units
- Introducing a renovation tax credit for independent landlords who improve their properties while keeping rent stable
On a larger scale, the plan suggests investing in the construction of 99,000 community housing units over the next 10 years, which would help meet growing demand in rapidly expanding markets.
Why These Changes Matter
Ontario’s rental system affects millions of people, from long-term tenants to first-time landlords. Lengthy delays, inconsistent processes, and limited housing options have made it increasingly difficult to navigate. These proposed reforms aim to create a system that is faster, fairer, and more sustainable for everyone involved.
While not every recommendation may be adopted, the discussion itself is important. Modernizing the RTA, improving the LTB, and supporting new housing construction could collectively reduce backlogs, improve access to housing, and stabilize rental costs across the province.
