Tenant advocates in west-end Toronto celebrate a victory as they successfully block a landlord’s attempt to retroactively increase rents by over five percent at an apartment building on Spencer Ave.
Residents at 75 Spencer Ave. took a stand against the property manager’s move to seek an above guideline rent increase (AGI) in March. This led to a six-month rent strike, during which Metcap Living, the landlord, ultimately withdrew the AGI application.
Under Ontario’s rent control regulations, the maximum allowable rent increase for 2025 was 2.5 percent. Landlords can apply for AGIs to cover renovation and improvement costs through the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Tenants argued that recent renovations, such as the lobby makeover and conversion of an office into a rental unit, did not directly benefit them, questioning the justification for a 5.4 percent rent hike.
The building, located in Toronto’s Parkdale area, changed ownership in May, prompting tenants to travel to Montreal to confront the new owners over the proposed rent increase.
Bryan Doherty of Parkdale Organize commended the community’s collective action, emphasizing the importance of forming independent organizations, challenging conventions, and directly addressing landlord issues.
