Brampton Takes Steps to Regulate Unlawful Rentals

The City of Brampton is broadening a project that enables the city to monitor and enforce rental practices in specific wards.

Brampton’s residential rental licensing (RRL) pilot program, designed to tackle illegal rentals, started last year and required landlords to register with the city and pay a $300 annual license fee. The city intends to expand the project’s reach to include more wards in January, eventually covering the entire city.

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown stated that the aim of this initiative is to guarantee safe living conditions for tenants.

“We don’t want to see fire traps. We don’t want to see any inhumane conditions for living in our city,” Brown said.

In January 2024, the RRL took effect for wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7. On Wednesday, Brampton’s city council approved a motion extending this requirement to wards 2 and 8 starting on Jan. 1, 2026.

This pilot allows the city access to residential units for risk assessments and ensuring adherence to safety bylaws despite provincial laws prohibiting access without permission, according to Brown.

“Under our RRL program, we treat rental units as businesses,” he told CBC Toronto on Wednesday. “The city does have the right to enter a business to see if there’s compliance issues.”

Making Sure Regulations Are Followed

Landlord groups expressed opposition when the pilot was first introduced. Brown emphasized its necessity regardless of some landlords’ resistance.

Rowena Santos, councillor for wards 1 and 5 in Brampton, mentioned that these expansions will be rolled out gradually because this approach has been successful where the project initially launched.

“We have been able to see an increase in compliance for homes that were non-compliant on building code; fire code now actually being in compliance,” Santos said on Wednesday.

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Brampton officials report progress in addressing illegal rentals. As CBC’s Britnei Bilhete highlights, they say some rental conditions encountered range from unsafe living standards all the way up to instances of sexual exploitation.

Santos argued that since landlords profit from rental properties they should be licensed and subject to inspections just like other business owners do.

Brampton’s RRL initiative resulted in over 4,700 inspections along with more than 600 penalty notices within months after it began according to city data. 

This pilot currently doesn’t apply in three Brampton wards; however, the city requested a report on Wednesday regarding potential costs for including those areas later on.

Safety Concerns Heightened After Fatal Fire

The expansion of RRL has been planned since earlier this fall but its approval comes just days after five people tragically died in a house fire within Brampton.

Santos noted that the residence was outside any ward where RRL is applicable as she shared news about it on Wednesday.

“This heartbreaking tragedy is a painful reminder that unsafe rental conditions are not limited to one neighbourhood or ward,” said Santos in her statement.

At least ten out of eleven individuals residing at that house were present during the fire incident. Police reported last week that nine occupants were part of a multigenerational family living there while two others occupied a basement unit.

The mayor mentioned last week that there had been ongoing compliance issues related specifically with regard to the basement unit rented out by the landlord.

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Council members alongside advocates are urging Toronto council members toward approving an evaluation program meant for property standards at various rental properties as explained by CBC’s Clara Pasieka.

“We don’t know the full extent of what negligence or compliance existed; as investigators continue their work we’ll gain more insight,” Brown commented on Wednesday.

“There [were] attempts made previously trying to gain access which were denied; additionally there was an ad online advertising an illegal unit,” added Brown.

Sukhi Baidwan represented legal counsel concerning one landlord involved; stating they refute claims about non-compliance while confirming cooperation throughout investigations led by law enforcement authorities along with insurance companies.

“The property had lawful tenancy agreements established back into March this year,” Baidwan conveyed through his statement provided earlier today via CBC Toronto.

“This lease allowed only four adults along with one child residing within these premises; any additional persons who may have visited or stayed here occurred without consent from ownership,” noted their account further clarifying responsibilities outlined therein.”

The city’s efforts included multiple inspection requests aimed towards checking up at this location throughout years spanning both 2019-2020 period according subsequent statements sent directly towards CBC Toronto today.

“Initially access was turned down by tenants yet afterward granted when discovering furnishings placed inside separate locked sections between units ,” revealed insights shared directly amongst them.

A request came forth requesting approval intended upon secondary construction occurring within existing structures nearby-however despite written reminders reminding responsible parties no follow-through occurred pertaining necessary inspections mandated under building codes set forth previously highlighted before.”

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