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Rental Housing
Research for the one-third of Canadians who rent
Housing is a new research focus for CCPA Ontario, but Ricardo Tranjan’s The Tenant Class has had an outsized impact on Canada’s housing debate since its publication in May 2023. The book and related blogs and news articles document the role of profit in rent inflation and make the case for strong rent controls and an end to the loopholes landlords use to circumvent them. CCPA Ontario research in this area advocates for public investment in non-market housing and recognizes the important role played by tenants in mobilizing for affordable, livable housing.
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The rationale for Ontario’s Bill 60 does not hold up
Yesterday, the Ontario government introduced Bill 60, Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, which contains many disconcerting, proposed changes to the Residential Tenancy Act.
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When it comes to housing, Ontarians have clear choices in this election
It’s been a tough election for policy analysts. We like long platforms, detailed policy proposals, and lots of numbers. We didn’t get much of that…
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Ontario lost nearly 1,300 residential construction jobs last year—the worst in Canada
Public policy researchers spill a lot of ink on housing affordability, but we pay a lot less attention to residential construction as an employment sector.…
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What is the “rental wage” in my neighborhood?
Across Canada, rents are out of control. In 2019, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives introduced the concept of the “rental wage” to Canada. The rental…
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What is rent control, anyway?
The term rent control refers to regulations that limit rent increases. In Canada, it is officially the job of provincial governments to create and enforce these rules.…
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Rent control in Ontario is full of loopholes
Every June, the Ontario government announces the rent increase guideline for the following year. In theory, most rents cannot go up by more than this guideline. In…
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Above-guideline rent increases are out of control
Ontario’s rent control regime has many flaws. But there is one piece that stands out above the others: above-guideline increases, or AGIs.
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Arguments against rent control don’t hold up to scrutiny
During the 1969-1974 pre-rent control period for which we have data, there were on average 32,704 unassisted rental starts per year, or about 30 per…
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Policy solutions and political repsonses to fix Ontario rent control
It’s very clear to all honest observers that the rental market in Ontario is brutal for tenants. And despite what landlords and developers—and their pundits—might…
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Resources for tenants to learn about rent control in Ontario
Various tenant groups in Ontario organize to fight rent hikes and evictions, sometimes with help from tenancy advocacy organizations. Below, we have compiled a list…
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Average rents in Ontario are rising by three times the provincial rent increase guideline, new CCPA report reveals
OTTAWA—Giant loopholes in Ontario’s rent control system mean tenants are paying average rent increases that are three times those allowed under the provincial rent increase…
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How much do I need to earn to afford an apartment in my neighbourhood?
Tenants across the country are feeling the pinch from landlords. Just how bad is it where you live?
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