To the Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
WHEREAS Ontario renters frequently spend more than 30% of their income on rent;
WHEREAS Above Guideline Rent Increases (AGIs) are being consistently exploited by corporate landlords to raise rents for tenants in rent-controlled homes above the provincial maximum annual increase of 2.5%;
WHEREAS AGI requests have increased by 250% in the last 11 years;
WHEREAS the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) requires landlords to maintain their properties using rent for upkeep, despite many tenants facing ignored maintenance requests and buildings suffering from chronic disrepair, and
WHEREAS Tenants can pay up to $35,000 more in rent during the approximately 10-15 year lifetime of an AGI.
WE, the undersigned, petition the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to:
- Ban the use of Above Guideline Rent Increases (AGIs) on purpose-built rental buildings with six or more units.