City of Toronto Resources

Rental Housing & Tenant Information from the City of Toronto 

The City of Toronto offers many different types of resources for a wide variety of issues. You can navigate this page to find the information and services you are looking for, find more information here. 

The Housing Help & Support Services Map, found here, is a tool created by the City Of Toronto helps renters navigate and connect to Housing Help Centres, legal supports and services. These supports include applications, eviction prevention and free legal advice for housing related issues. There also is a Remote Services tab for renters prefer contact over the phone or online. 

Eviction Prevention Handbook 

• The evection Prevention Handbook is a resource for renters facing evictions. You can find information on the legal eviction process. It provided insight on free legal advice, financial support, and local services that can assist with eviction prevention and housing stability. 

• The handbook is also available in Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese,  Arabic, Tamil and Tagalog

RentSafeTO

RentSafeTO is a City of Toronto runned bylaw enforcement program that was established in 2017 to ensure building maintenance and access to information for tenants. Applies to all apartment building with 3 or more stores and 10 or more units- nearly 3,600 apartment buildings (approximately 321,000 Units) 

What RentSafeTo can help with? 

• No electricity 

• No water 

• Low or No Heat 

• Breach or Security 

• Property Maintenance

• Damage (broken or cracked windows, cabinets, peeling paints) 

• Leaks 

• Common Area Cleanliness 

• Pests 

• Waste Management 

 

Outside of RentSafeTo’s Authority

• Mould- Public Health 

• Bed Bugs- Public Health 

• Fire Codes- Toronto Fire Services 

• Building Code & Permits- Toronto Buildings 

• Elevator Operations- Technical Standards and Safety Authority 

• Electrical Issues- electrical safety authority 

• Residential Tenancy Act- Landlord Tenant Board 

• Criminal Matters- Toronto Police Services 

Multi Tenant House 

The MTH bylaw (Chapter 575- Multi Tenant Houses) sets minimum safety, health and maintenance standards for multi-tenant houses. It requires a licenses to be issued by the City of Toronto 

• The goal is to 

  • Improve Tenant safety and living conditions 

  • Make operations accountable 

  • Provide tenants a clear way to get support for the City 

What is a Multi- Tenant House 

• Is a home where: 

  • 4 or more rooms are rented out 

  • The people renting do not know eachother 

  • Everyone shares spaces like: 

    • Kitchen 

    • Bathroom 

    • Living space

    • MTH licensing requirements 

• As part of the MTH Licence Application, operators are required to submit plans that help support tenants to ensure the house in maintained and meets minimum health and safety standards 

• Plans include:

  • Waste Management Plan

  • Pest Management Plan

  • Indoor and Outdoor Property Management Plan

  • Floor Plan

  • Property Plan 

Contact Information: 

• Telephone: 416-394-8178

• MTH Licensing: [email protected]

• MTH Enforcement: [email protected]
  

Subsized Housing 

Rent Geared to Income (RGI) is a housing subsidy offered by the City of Toronto to make housing affordable by capping rent at no more than 30% of a household's income. Through the Housing Secretariat , Access to Housing staff manages the Waiting List for RGI housing and reviews regularly to review new applications to confirm eligibility. 

Applicants are evaluated based on income, family size and housing needs. Priority is given to individuals and families facing the most urgent circumstances including: 

• Survivors of family/domestic abuse and human trafficking 

• Applicants with a terminal illness and a life expectancy under two years

• People experiencing homelessness 

• Tenants in subsidized housing who must move to a smaller unit due to household changes 

• Tenants moving from supported housing into RGI housing 

• Youth aged 16 or 17 who are applying as heads of households 

• Applicants who identify as Indigenous in Canada 

As a political office we can not intervene in this process. The system is structured to remain fair, transparent and accountable. Wait times can be long- sometimes up to 15 years- so it's important for applicants to keep their information updated to maintain their place on the waitlist. 

To check or update your application, log into your My Access to Housing account. If you already have an application and need support, call 416-338-8888 or book an appointment through the City's Website here. . 

If you do not yet have an application and need help applying for RGI housing, call 416-338-4766 or apply online here. 

Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing provides lower than average market rents, helping to make living in Toronto become more affordable. The City works with housing developers to create new affordable housing in purpose-built rental developments. 

• Since 2024, $1.2 billion invested in unlocking affordable rental homes 

• The city plans to approve 65,00 rent controlled homes by 2030 

• 29,000 new homes started since 2024 

• 9,900 new homes under construction with 46 City-supported groups 

Upcoming Changes to Affordable Housing 

The City of Toronto has an interim approach used by both private, non-profit and co-operative housing providers. The City of Toronto is in the process of creating a new Centralized Access System for Affordable Rental Housing. This Future system will provide a single, consistent way for residents to apply. 

If you are a current tenant living in an affordable housing unit and want to share your feedback about your experience living in the affordable housing lottery process, which the City calls “Random Draws for Affordable Rental Homes”. Tenants can email the Housing Stability Services email to provide feedback or to request a call: [email protected] 

Senior Housing 

The City of Toronto offers a number of resources for seniors who are looking for housing and support. 

You can find more information on the City of Toronto’s webpage or contact them at The Toronto Seniors Helpline at (416-217-2077). You can also call 211 who can help connect seniors to agencies and community services. 

If you would like to learn more you can check out Toronto Seniors Housing Corporation for additional information and resources.