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5 Questions for Change is a monthly feature that brings you insights from the people at CCHR working on the frontlines every day to advance the right to housing. 

This month, we are talking to Ayesha Adamjee, Manager of Education and Community Initiatives


1. What are two issues you see renters struggling with most right now?

Security of tenure is the first big issue I see tenants struggling with. I see so many tenants who live in constant fear of eviction, or who have been evicted, often multiple times. In many cases, tenants have done nothing to warrant an eviction. Rather landlords would like to increase the profit from their investment and will file evictions for own use or extensive renovations. 

I’m also seeing more and more tenants who are exempt from the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). This is usually when tenants share a kitchen or a bathroom with their landlord. I’ve had a few cases now where the landlord will learn about this exemption and make the unit look like it’s RTA-exempt. 

2. What are the most common questions or myths you hear from renters and service providers? 

The most common myth I see by far is that all lease clauses are valid. For example, many leases will include a clause that says that tenants are responsible for maintenance, or for putting a certain amount of money towards maintenance. I’ve seen leases that require tenants to move out at the end of the lease term, that says they’re not allowed guests or pets, and it’s important for tenants to know that you can’t “contract out” of your rights. This means that if your lease has a clause that conflicts with the law, it is invalid and unenforceable.  

3. What is one resource, either from CCHR or other sources, you find yourself referring people to most often – and why? 

I almost always have the Steps to Justice resources and guided pathways open. They are absolutely invaluable in helping tenants understand and enforce their rights. In today’s housing crisis, where most legal professionals are prioritizing evictions, the guided pathways are especially useful in making tenant applications accessible to tenants who can’t afford to hire a legal representative. 

4. If you could offer one piece of advice to renters across the country, what would it be? 

Learn about your rights and share them with your community! So many landlords exploit tenants who don’t know their legal rights, or who are isolated from their communities. Since they control your housing, landlords are in a position of power over you. Knowledge is power and you are always going to be stronger together. My best advice is to get as organized and as educated as possible. 

5. What drives you to do the work you do at CCHR? 

We’ve all said that housing is a human right, and that everyone needs a safe place to call home. But housing for me goes so far beyond just someone’s home. Everything in a person’s life is completely dependent upon the adequacy of your housing. It’s impossible to be happy and healthy without a safe and well-maintained house. You can’t be expected to maintain a job if you don’t have a place to go home to at the end of the day.  When your rent is too expensive, it’s hard to afford groceries, gas or leisure activities. Without adequate and affordable housing, a person’s whole life falls apart. So to me, there is nothing more important than helping our community stay safely and securely housed. 

Note: The information provided in this message is legal information only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal advice, please contact CCHR’s Legal Services team, a lawyer, or your local community Legal Aid clinic.


5 Questions for Change is a monthly feature that brings you insights from the people at CCHR working on the frontlines every day to advance the right to housing. 

This month, we are talking to Victoria Wan, a Lawyer from our Client Services team.


1. What are two issues you see renters struggling with most right now?

The two most common issues I see right now are Above Guideline Increase (AGI) applications and maintenance issues. I talk to tenants in Toronto due to our legal services program, but I know these two issues are common throughout Ontario.

AGI applications are based on circumstances where a landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to raise the rent above the guideline amount. Each year, the Ontario government sets a “rent increase guideline”, which is the percentage that a landlord is allowed to increase the rent for rent-controlled units. Rent-controlled units are defined by the Residential Tenancies Act.

Maintenance issues within the rental unit or in the building are very common as well, especially for older buildings in Toronto and in Ontario. Always document and write to your landlord when you have a complaint about a maintenance issue. If the landlord is not responding, contact the Property Standards for your municipality, which is usually the phone number 311.

2. Is there a recent case or experience that stayed with you and what did it reveal about renters’ realities? 

In our current economic reality, an extreme rent increase is very difficult for renters. As I mentioned above regarding rent-controlled units, there are more and more rental units that do not have rent control. Rental units that are not rent controlled include new buildings, additions to existing buildings, and most new basement apartments that are occupied for the first time for residential purposes after November 15, 2018.

I worked on a case that involved an extremely high rent increase of $600 in one year, on top of a current monthly rent of $3,000. Because the rental home was newly constructed and rented for the first time around 2021, the landlord is legally permitted to increase the rent to any amount. Despite attempts to negotiate with the landlord, the landlord was not willing to permit a lower increase amount.

The problem is with the rent decontrol laws set by the Ontario government in 2018. If you disagree with these rent decontrol laws, talk to your Ontario Member of Provincial Parliament.

3. When you represent tenants at the LTB, what’s the most common misconception you encounter- either from renters or landlords? 

When I represent tenants at the Landlord and Tenant Board, a common misconception that I see from landlords or their representatives are that tenants are trying to be “annoying” to landlords and their representatives. Standing up for your legal rights as a tenant is not “annoying.” Being able to know and enforce your tenant rights is part of advancing the human right to housing in Canada. We live in a real world, where there are real human beings and families struggle to pay rent and afford food for themselves and their family. Learn more about CCHR’s work on the right to housing in Canada here.

4. If you could offer one piece of advice to renters across the country, what would it be? 

Learn your rights as a tenant in your province. Seek free legal advice on tenant rights where you can get it. Read the municipal and provincial websites with the summaries on your rights as a tenant. CCHR has a resource for renters facing eviction for each province and territory in Canada here: Resources for renters facing eviction – Canadian Centre for Housing Rights.

If you are lucky to have secure and safe housing, try to support other tenants who are facing difficult challenges.

5. What drives you to do the work you do at CCHR? 

I really do admire and appreciate my coworkers at CCHR, and I am inspired by the work they do to advance good housing policies and recommendations at every level of government. I am also driven by supporting affordable housing, and learning and working to find better solutions for renters in Ontario, and across the country. I hope to help in advancing the work for every Canadian to know that housing is a human right recognized by the United Nations.

Note: The information provided in this message is legal information only. It is not legal advice and is not a substitute for legal advice. If you require legal advice, please contact CCHR’s Legal Services team, a lawyer, or your local community Legal Aid clinic.


5 Questions for Change is a monthly feature that brings you insights from the people at CCHR working on the frontlines every day to advance the right to housing. 

This month, we are talking to Rose Vandermeer, Senior Engagement and Education Advisor.

  1. What are two issues you see renters struggling with most right now?

    Beyond affordability, many renters are living in poorly maintained buildings with repair issues that go unresolved. At the same time, the legal system does not work well for tenants experiencing maintenance issues, with limited access to legal help, weak by-law enforcement, and long delays at the Landlord & Tenant Board for tenant applications. 

    2. What are the most common questions or myths you hear from renters and service providers? 

    A common misunderstanding is that tenants think they have to sign an agreement to end their tenancy (an N11) because the landlord tells them to. These forms are voluntary and should only be signed if the tenant actually wants to move out. Many tenants assume landlords or their agents are legal experts, but it’s important for tenants to understand their own rights and get legal advice before signing anything.  

    3. What is one resource, either from CCHR or other sources, you find yourself referring people to most often – and why? 

    Local legal clinics.
    Many people don’t realize that there is free legal help available for tenants throughout Ontario. Most of their services are for low-income people but usually any tenant can get legal information and that can really help in understanding and enforcing their rights!

    4. If you could offer one piece of advice to renters across the country, what would it be? 

    If you can afford your current place, try your best not to move. Truly affordable rentals are disappearing fast, and finding another one can be extremely difficult. If your landlord tells you that you have to leave, get free legal advice before you do anything. 

    5. What drives you to do the work you do at CCHR? 

    I do this work because the stakes are incredibly high for renters. Most tenants have far fewer resources than landlords to enforce their rights, yet everyone needs a safe, stable home they can rely on. This is a human right. For landlords, housing is often an investment; for tenants, it is their lives. When things go wrong, tenants don’t just risk money, they can lose their homes, neighbourhoods, schools, support networks, and community. If we are going to let private capital supply housing, then we must also have people who stand up to capital in defence of human rights.


On November 24, 2025, Bill 60 was passed in Ontario, changing 16 laws, including the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). The changes made to the RTA apply only to applications made after Bill 60 comes into force. As of December 18, 2025, the changes to the RTA were not yet in effect.


The following highlights some, but not all, of the expected changes under Bill 60.

When your landlord claims you owe rent, there is a “grace period” of 14 days during which a landlord cannot file to evict you. Under Bill 60, it is shortened to 7 days. This means that if your landlord gives you an N4 form for non-payment of rent, you have only 7 days to pay before an eviction application can be filed with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

During your eviction hearing for unpaid rent, you can raise issues that you could have included in your own application to the LTB, such as if your landlord has failed to do maintenance. However, under Bill 60, you must pay 50% of the money your landlord claims you owe before the hearing to be allowed to raise these issues.

When you or your landlord disagree with an LTB order, you have 30 days to request that the LTB review their decision. Under Bill 60, requests to review must be submitted within 15 days of the decision or order. However, if the LTB considers it “just and appropriate in the circumstances to extend the time to request the review,” the LTB still has the power to give more time.

If your landlord gave you an N12 notice because they or their family need the unit to live in, they had to pay you one month’s rent as compensation, regardless of how much notice they gave. Under Bill 60, if the termination date on the N12 notice is at least 120 days after the notice is given, your landlord does not have to pay this compensation.


While other changes may come in the future, importantly, the following two protections still apply:

Your rent can only be increased once every 12 months with 90 days’ notice. For properties first occupied before November 15, 2018, your landlord is not allowed to increase the rent more than the province’s annual guideline amount unless they apply for an Above the Guideline Increase.

Tenancies still automatically continue month to month once the initial lease period ends. This means once the lease period ends, you are not required to move out or renew the lease, and your original lease terms continue.


For more information about your rights under Bill 60, please contact our tenant services team.

5 Questions for Change is a monthly feature that brings you insights from the people at CCHR working on the frontlines every day to advance the right to housing. 

This month, we are talking to Julie Matheson, a Lawyer from our Client Services team.

  1. What are two issues you see renters struggling with most right now?

    Many renters are concerned about the impact of Bill 60 on their rights as a tenant; the changes it will bring are largely geared towards tenants who have fallen into arrears, which is a position no one expects to be in, but is a very real threat for many people in this affordability crisis. Knowing that a landlord will be able to file for eviction just seven days after your rent is late is a very scary position when costs are rising and wages and benefits are not keeping up. 

    Similarly, Above Guideline Increases, or AGIs, are another threat to tenants being able to afford their rent, as the law permits landlords to pass on the cost of certain “capital expenditures” to tenants in rent-controlled buildings. This can feel very unfair to tenants, as they are already paying their rent, and the landlord is legally obligated to maintain their buildings. But with AGIs, landlords can get permission to raise the rent up to 9% over three years – on top of the guideline rent increase – which adds up quickly and drives rent prices up. 

    2. Is there a recent case or experience that stayed with you and what did it reveal about renters’ realities?  

    The Landlord and Tenant Board only has jurisdiction over tenancies that are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act – unfortunately, this category excludes some of the more vulnerable renters. A few different cases in recent months have involved situations where it was unclear whether the Act applied, or where the Landlord unfairly claimed it did not. This can be a complicated legal issue that needs to be determined by the Board based on the specific facts, but many renters unfortunately take their landlord’s claim that they are not a tenant as a fact without getting legal advice. If your landlord takes actions like moving in after you’ve already signed a lease; claiming to live with you while also living somewhere else; or starting to share the kitchen or bathroom with you when they never have before – get legal advice ASAP! 

    3. When you represent tenants at the LTB, what’s the most common misconception you encounter- either from renters or landlords? 

    I often see both landlords and tenants assuming that they can contract out of their rights under the RTA. But even if it’s in your lease, if a clause isn’t lawful – then it isn’t binding. Things like extra charges for roommates, illegal rent increases on rent-controlled units, pet prohibitions, or requirements that Tenants pay a fee for maintenance/repairs are not binding even if the parties sign a lease agreement that includes them. It’s always a good idea to seek legal advice before signing a lease that has clauses that aren’t legally allowed, or that otherwise makes you uncomfortable – but even if you have already signed it, it isn’t too late to get legal advice. It is still possible to fight back against many unfair rules, because the law is clear that you cannot sign away your rights. 

    4. If you could offer one piece of advice to renters across the country, what would it be? 

    Document everything! And don’t wait until everything has gone wrong; even if everything is going well, it doesn’t hurt to keep a record of communications with your landlord about anything regarding your home. Consider keeping a running Google doc of dates, times, events, and even put in screenshots of any emails and texts as you go – if you need to organize evidence for a hearing later on, you’ll be in a much better position. If you think you might have to take legal action, get legal advice early to help narrow down what kind of evidence you should be gathering, and any other steps you can take to set yourself up for the best possible outcome.  

    5. What drives you to do the work you do at CCHR? 

    Housing is a human right, and working at an organization that truly practices that approach to housing is deeply rewarding. The law guarantees many rights to tenants, but the reality is that they are sometimes difficult to enforce. Having the ability to empower tenants with the information and advice that will help them be treated fairly is a responsibility and privilege that I greatly value. While not all cases can be winning cases, helping someone make sure that they have the best chance possible of keeping their tenancy or making sure their landlord follows the law is what motivates me to keep doing this work. 


This resource gives tenants in Ontario essential information on their rights under Bill 60, including expected changes and protections that remain in place.




November 22, 2025, marks the 25th anniversary of National Housing Day. Just as Labour Day is an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of the labour movement and continue fighting for workers’ rights, National Housing Day is a day to recognize housing as a fundamental human right and take action to ensure everyone has a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home.

Over the past year, we have seen some important progress on the right to housing across the country, alongside some deeply concerning backsliding. Below, we highlight key right to housing wins, misses, and opportunities ahead. You can also find information about National Housing Day events in your region to join the movement to continue pushing for concrete action to end housing need and homelessness.

Right to housing wins 

  • On October 1, 2025, the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) passed a motion calling on the provincial government to formally legislate housing as a human right. This would help ensure the province has a clear, legal, rights-based framework to address its growing housing and homelessness crisis, following the federal government’s commitment to advance the right to housing in the 2019 National Housing Strategy Act. The UBCM motion followed nine successful municipal motions in spring 2025, and a similar resolution was passed by the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs Council in 2024.
  • On October 28, 2025, the Northwest Territories’ Standing Committee on Social Development released recommendations to the territory on implementing the right to housing through its laws and policies. The recommendations include establishing a Territorial Housing Advocate, amending the Residential Tenancies Act, ensuring evictions are treated as a last resort, increasing supportive and transitional housing options, improving access to legal aid for renters, and incentivizing affordable housing development, among others. See CCHR’s deputation to support the implementation of housing as a human right in the Northwest Territories.

Across the country, a few provincial and territorial governments took some promising steps to expand rent regulation, while ongoing opportunities remain to close loopholes and ensure renters have secure, affordable homes for the long term:

  • On February 1, 2025, New Brunswick introduced a new rent increase guideline, limiting rent increases to three per cent (with exceptions of up to nine per cent for major renovations). See CCHR’s recommendations and commentary on additional opportunities to improve renter protections in New Brunswick.
  • On April 30, 2025, Nova Scotia extended its temporary rent cap until December 31, 2027, limiting rent increases to five per cent. Meanwhile, advocates in Nova Scotia continue to call for stronger rent regulation in the province, including prohibiting the use of fixed-term leases.
  • On September 1, 2025, Yukon introduced a new rent increase guideline, tying rent increases to the consumer price index (with exceptions of up to three per cent above the guideline for up to three years for major renovations). Along with the guideline, Yukon introduced a new Residential Tenancies Act, which limits some no-fault evictions, prohibits the use of artificial intelligence to set rents, and clarifies the role of the Residential Tenancy Office. See CCHR’s recommendations to improve renter protections in Yukon.

In other jurisdictions, opposition parties are planning or introduced private members’ bills calling for stronger rent regulation, where rent regulation is weak and/or contains loopholes – for example, in Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Quebec – or where rent regulation does not exist at all – for example, in Saskatchewan. See CCHR’s commentary on the importance of strong rent regulation to protect renters in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and across the country.

  • On January 14, 2025, Manitoba introduced a new plan to end chronic homelessness and created a new premier’s senior advisor on ending chronic homelessness to oversee the work. The province will coordinate efforts among non-profit organizations, Indigenous nations, and municipalities to move encampment residents into permanent housing, including by investing in new social housing with wraparound supports.
  • On September 16, 2025, New Brunswick launched a ministerial task force on homelessness, which aims to coordinate efforts to address homelessness across relevant provincial departments. The task force will focus initially on developing a provincial homelessness strategy and establishing a community advisory council. It will provide regular reports to cabinet, quarterly public updates on chronic homelessness, and an annual public report.
  • On September 14, 2025, the federal government launched Build Canada Homes, a new agency responsible for affordable housing development across the country. See CCHR’s submission and analysis, where we highlight how Build Canada Homes marks an important shift in the federal government’s approach to affordable housing development by focusing on growing the supply of community housing. However, we also urge the government to ensure Build Canada Homes prioritizes those in greatest housing need by setting clear human rights-based targets, timelines, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms to end homelessness and housing need as quickly as possible.
  • On October 22, 2025, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. launched the Igluvut Corporation, a new Inuit-led non-profit housing corporation responsible for delivering and managing affordable housing in the territory. The Igluvut Corporation will administer $135 million of funding through the Inuit Housing Fund, with initial plans to build up to 160 affordable units over five years, alongside supportive housing, seniors housing, and shelters.

In addition to launching its new homelessness strategy, Manitoba also took important steps to protect some of its community housing stock and require landlords to cover costs for renters forced to leave their homes due to health or safety issues. See CCHR’s deputation to the Manitoba Standing Committee on Legislative Affairs on the importance of ensuring landlords fulfill their obligations to provide safe and habitable homes for renters.

Right to housing misses

  • On October 23, 2025, Ontario introduced a law that would accelerate evictions and reduce access to justice for renters. Following widespread advocacy, the government walked back initial plans to consult on introducing fixed term leases, which would have effectively eliminated rent control in the province. Nevertheless, the legislation still severely weakens security of tenure for renters and heavily favours landlords. See CCHR’s joint analysis and commentary, where we highlight how weakening renter protections will exacerbate the housing and homelessness crisis. CCHR also joined over 130 organizations calling for the province to repeal the law and for municipalities to advocate against it.

Across the country, some jurisdictions either reduced or failed to ensure equitable access to community housing for those in greatest need:

  • On May 15, 2025, Alberta introduced regulations to increase rents by 63 per cent for renters in community housing who receive provincial disability benefits. Advocates highlighted how this change will perpetuate poverty for people with disabilities and called for the policy to be reversed.
  • On June 30, 2025, British Columbia announced that it was considering removing supportive housing from the Residential Tenancy Act. The province established a working group composed of supportive housing providers, law enforcement, union representatives, and government to consider the change. Meanwhile, advocates expressed concern that this would reduce protections and increase evictions of supportive housing renters.
  • On July 9, 2025, Saskatchewan’s Opposition NDP revealed that approximately 12.5 per cent of the province’s community housing units were vacant, while housing insecurity and homelessness grows across the province. The NDP called for improved community housing maintenance and coordinated planning to fill the vacancies and address the housing and homelessness crisis.
  • In March 2025, the Auditor General of Prince Edward Island released a report evaluating the province’s Affordable Housing Development Program. The audit found that the program failed to increase affordable housing for those in greatest need, building just over one-quarter of the units planned under the program. The audit recommended that the government establish clear performance measures, improve data collection, and conduct regular program evaluations.
  • In May 2025, the Auditor General of Canada released a report showing that the Nunavut Housing Corporation failed to maintain and provide equitable access to community housing. The audit recommended that the Nunavut Housing Corporation improve monitoring of its housing allocations, ensure units are well-maintained, and provide equitable access to units that meet the needs of seniors and people with disabilities.
  • In June 2025, the Auditor General of New Brunswick released a report evaluating the province’s housing strategy. The audit found that the New Brunswick Housing Corporation failed to provide timely maintenance and repairs, inspections, and adequate funding. The audit recommended that the New Brunswick Housing Corporation improve maintenance, inspections, and turnaround times for vacant units.
  • In addition to extending its rent cap in April 2025, Nova Scotia also introduced new provisions that allow landlords to issue an eviction notice if a rent payment is late by three days. Renters now have 10 days to pay the rent or dispute the eviction. Previously, landlords were required to wait 15 days to issue an eviction notice for non-payment of rent, and renters would have another 15 days to pay the rent or dispute the eviction. This change significantly reduces renters’ ability to maintain their housing and expedites the eviction process.
  • In April 2025, Quebec introduced a new formula to calculate rent increases. Following an earlier proposal that also included net income, operating expenses, and service in the calculations, the new formula is based on the consumer price index, municipal and school taxes, insurance costs, and capital expenditures. Renter advocates warned the change favours landlords, arguing rent hikes are now tied to inflation and renovation potential, while interest rates and renovation costs are too volatile and complex to ensure predictability for renters.

Looking ahead 

Following a year of both progress and backsliding on the right to housing across the country, we look forward to upcoming opportunities to centre housing as a human right in the national discourse and in law and policy at all levels of government, through ongoing research, policy advocacy, law reform, and community engagement and mobilization.

Later this year, Neha, the National Housing Council review panel on the right to housing for women, Two Spirit, Trans, and gender-diverse people, will release recommendations for the federal government to uphold this right, following engagement with people with lived experience, housing rights organizations, and experts on human rights, housing, and social inequality. See CCHR’s recommendations, where we outline the impact of intersectional factors on housing security, gendered experiences of homelessness, Canada’s duty and failure to uphold the right to housing for women and gender-diverse people, and key principles and actions to realize this right. 

On June 12, 2025, the Federal Housing Advocate called for the National Housing Council to launch its next review panel to examine the lack of accessible housing across Canada, in light of the disproportionate rates of housing need and homelessness among people with disabilities. CCHR looks forward to engaging in this review panel and helping advance the right to housing for people with disabilities, drawing on our ongoing policy and research work in this area. 

As we highlight in our analysis of the 2025 federal budget, attaching conditions for provinces and territories to access federal funding is critical to ensure an effective, coordinated approach to ending homelessness and housing need. The federal government exercised this power by using the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund as an incentive for provinces and territories to adopt elements of the Renters’ Bill of Rights. It also introduced a new Build Communities Strong Fund that has the potential to take a similar approach.

Building on our advocacy to date, we continue to call for the federal government to strengthen the Renters’ Bill of Rights and ensure that provinces and territories commit to implementing strong renter protections in order to access federal funding, including long-term affordability, security, and other critical protections for renters. At the same time, we look forward to ongoing work with provinces and territories to strengthen renter protections across the country – both in policy and in practice.

As noted above, CCHR was proud to join coalitions of advocates, researchers, and lived experts across various sectors – including housing, homelessness, health care, drug policy, disability justice, human rights, settlement, migrant justice, public transit, and more – to push back against harmful laws in Ontario. We are also active members of Right to Housing Toronto, Right to Housing Manitoba, National Right to Housing Network, and other community, legal, and research networks, where we work with partners across the country to advance the right to housing.

Looking ahead to 2026, we will continue building and engaging with coalitions to drive collective advocacy and action to end homelessness and housing need.

National Housing Day events

  • Virtual: on November 20, join the Rural Development Network for its event focused on innovative, affordable, and community-led housing solutions across both rural and non-rural contexts in Canada. 
  • Toronto, Ontario: on November 22, join tenants from across Ontario to march to Queens Park and rally against Bill 60, organized by York South-Weston Tenants, No Demovictions, ACORN Ontario, and the Encampment Justice Coalition. 
  • Halifax, Nova Scotia: on November 24, join Habitat for Humanity Nova Scotia as it convenes leaders, innovators, and decision-makers from across government, industry, and the non-profit sector to address the critical barriers to housing affordability and collaborate on actionable, scalable solutions that can shape the future of housing in Nova Scotia. 

To mark National Housing Day, we’re launching 5 Questions for Change, a monthly feature that brings you insights from the people at CCHR working on the frontlines every day to advance the right to housing. 

This month, we’re talking with Brightson Okenwa, Senior Legal Education Specialist.

  1. What are two issues you see renters struggling with most right now?

    Affordability and housing security: Across Ontario, rising rental prices are pushing many people to make difficult choices about where and how they live, often leading to overcrowded and less desirable housing arrangements such as rooming houses.  

    Many tenants experience ongoing insecurity due to the fear of eviction; particularly those who share kitchens or bathrooms with their landlords and are therefore not fully covered by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). This lack of legal protection makes it hard to feel stable or safe in one’s home.  More broadly, renters often aren’t fully aware of their rights or where to seek support when common issues arise. These combined pressures highlight the importance of organizations like CCHR, which help tenants understand their rights, navigate housing challenges, and work toward secure, affordable housing. 
  2. What are the most common questions or myths you hear from renters and service providers? 

    One of the most common myths I hear during most CCHR’s tenant training, is that “if I don’t have a written lease, I’m not protected under the Residential Tenancies Act.” (RTA

    In reality, a rental agreement does not have to be in writing to be legally valid. As long as a tenant is paying rent, not sharing the kitchen/bathroom with the landlord or the landlord’s family and has the landlord’s permission to occupy the unit, they are generally covered under the RTA and entitled to the same rights and protections as someone with a written lease. This includes rules around rent increases, eviction notices, and maintenance responsibilities. Many tenants/renters are unaware of this, which can lead to confusion and fear about their legal standing. Helping people understand that verbal or implied tenancies still carry legal protections is an important part of promoting housing stability and tenant confidence. 
  3. What is one resource, either from CCHR or other sources, you find yourself referring people to most often – and why? 

    One of the most common resources I refer people to is CLEO’s Steps to Justice website which provides clear, step-by-step information about tenants’ rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act. It covers a wide range of topics: from rent increases and repairs to eviction notices to mention a few and helps in empowering renters to advocate for themselves, understand what protections apply to their situation, and seek fair outcomes when issues arise with their landlords. 
  4. If you could offer one piece of advice to renters across the country, what would it be?

    Stay informed and keep records! Knowing your rights is your strongest protection and documenting your interactions; like maintenance requests, or taking pictures, can make all the difference, if disputes arise. I’d also encourage renters to reach out for help early. CCHR and other housing advocacy organizations are ready to assist, but too often, people wait until a small issue becomes a crisis. You’re not alone in navigating the housing system, meaningful support, is out there!
  5. What drives you to do the work you do at CCHR?

    I’m driven by the belief that housing is more than a basic need; it’s a foundation for dignity, security, and opportunity to thrive. Very often, I see how access to fair and stable housing transforms lives. Working at CCHR allows me to be part of that positive change; helping people understand their rights, challenge systemic barriers, and build stronger, more equitable communities. It’s deeply rewarding to know that CCHR’s work contributes to making “home” a reality for more people, especially those who are often marginalized or underserved.


On November 4, 2025, the federal government tabled Budget 2025: Canada Strong, the first budget under Prime Minister Mark Carney. The budget comes at a time of rising housing insecurity and homelessness, widening income inequality, and job and income loss across the country. At the centre of these intersecting crises are renters and people experiencing homelessness.  

While Budget 2025 includes some important, previously announced commitments toward affordable housing development, significant gaps remain that must be filled to meet the current moment. Of critical concern, the budget does not include:  

  • Immediate support for those in greatest need to find or keep their housing, such as expansions to the Canada Housing Benefit or Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy 
  • Protections for renters against excessive rents, unfair evictions, disrepair, discrimination, and other urgent issues 
  • Measures to tackle the financializaton of housing, including limiting the treatment of housing as a tool to maximize profits and substantially increasing the supply of community housing, or  
  • Commitments to uphold housing as a human right, including clear targets, timelines, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms to ensure government investments lead to deep and long-term housing affordability and security

The budget also reinforces damaging stereotypes about immigration as a driver of the housing crisis, while failing to recognize the key role that the financialization of housing has played in driving up prices, increasing housing insecurity and homelessness, and further marginalizing equity-deserving communities. 

Below, we outline what’s missing from Budget 2025 and opportunities for the federal government to make meaningful progress on ending homelessness and housing need, reflecting our pre-budget recommendations

Building on Build Canada Homes 

Previously announced in September 2025, Build Canada Homes is the cornerstone housing commitment in the budget and commits $13 billion over five years to primarily support the development of non-market housing. While these are important commitments, the budget does not allocate any new funding for Build Canada Homes or any other affordable or supportive housing initiatives that would help address the housing and homelessness crisis. Moreover, the budget does not include targets, timelines, or requirements for Build Canada Homes related to affordability, renter protections, and the needs of equity-deserving communities. As such, it fails to demonstrate how Build Canada Homes will achieve its goals of restoring affordability and reducing homelessness. Instead, it continues the pattern of previous budgets in failing to prioritize and maximize investments in the deeply affordable housing needed to address the current crisis.  

A recent report from the Federal Housing Advocate shows the need to build or acquire a minimum of 200,000 non-market homes per year over the next 30 years to address housing need and homelessness. Recent research from Maytree shows this could be achieved through a $40 billion annual federal investment. This contrasts dramatically with the $13 billion investment and less than 5,000 homes announced to date through Build Canada Homes (only some of which are targeted for those in greatest need). 

Targeting for deep affordability 

Following a recent CMHC report, the budget defines housing affordability based on 2019 levels, when households spent roughly 40-45 per cent of their income on housing. This is much higher than the widely accepted 30 per cent affordability standard. To meet this threshold, the budget commits to double homebuilding over the next decade, but it does not set any targets for affordability, housing types or renter protections.  

This logic relies on the assumption that new housing supply alone will increase affordability, yet the evidence shows this is not the case. For example, despite a historic increase in rental housing development last year, a recent CMHC report found that new units were too expensive for low- and moderate-income renters, and the increase in supply did little to improve affordability

To meaningfully address the housing and homelessness crisis, new housing supply must be targeted to those in greatest need. According to data from the Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART), nearly 20 per cent of households in Canada earn 50 per cent or less of the median household income in their area and can afford to spend a maximum of $1,050 on housing costs each month. It is thus critical for new housing supply to have clear and long-term affordability requirements and be paired with provisions for strong renter protections to meet the needs of those most impacted by the crisis. At the same time, existing affordable housing – and the people who live there – must be protected against excessive rent increases, demolitions, and conversions through robust acquisition programs (including deeper investments in the Canada Rental Protection Fund) and strong renter protections.  

Protecting renters  

The budget commits $51 billion over 10 years in new and existing funding to launch a Build Communities Strong Fund, which includes funding for provinces and territories to build the infrastructure needed for housing such as roads, water, and wastewater systems. To access this new funding, provinces and territories must cost-match federal funding, reduce development charges, and refrain from introducing new taxes related to housing development. However, the budget does not indicate any requirements for this new funding related to building affordable housing, protecting renters, or meeting the needs of equity-deserving communities.  

Attaching conditions for provinces and territories to access federal funding is a key lever at the federal government’s disposal to help align housing policies and programs across levels of government and ensure a coordinated approach to ending homelessness and housing need. The federal government previously exercised this power by using the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund as an incentive for provinces and territories to adopt elements of the Renters’ Bill of Rights.  

While most Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund agreements have now been signed, we have yet to see commitments from the provinces and territories related to renter protections outlined in the Renters’ Bill of Rights. Moreover, despite including important measures that aim to improve renter protections, the Renters’ Bill of Rights also omits some key provisions, including clear guidelines around rent regulation and eviction prevention. 

The Build Communities Strong Fund includes funding previously committed through the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund. As such, strong renter protections, clear and long-term affordability requirements, and commitments to meet the housing needs of equity-deserving communities must be central conditions of funding agreements between the federal government and the provinces and territories. 

Meeting the needs of equity-deserving communities  

The budget commits some dedicated funding for communities disproportionately impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis, including: 

  • $2.3 billion for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing (previously committed in the 2023 budget), and 
  • $528.4 million over four years for the Department of Women and Gender Equality, including commitments to eliminate discrimination and advance the rights of women and gender diverse people (though the budget does not indicate dedicated housing investments for women and gender diverse people). 

While these are important commitments that could help address the housing needs of Indigenous people, women, and gender diverse people, the budget still falls short of providing enough funding or setting clear targets for housing projects that meet the needs of these and other equity-deserving communities who face disproportionate rates of housing need and homelessness, including people with disabilities, Black and other racialized people, seniors, youth, immigrants, refugees, people living in rural and remote communities, and people experiencing homelessness. For example, Indigenous housing leaders have called for investments to quadruple the supply of Indigenous-led community housing, with estimates ranging from $4.3 billion to $5.6 billion per year over 10 years to meet needs of urban, rural, and northern Indigenous communities. 

Moreover, the budget fails to provide opportunities for engagement with people with lived experience of housing precarity and homelessness to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of the government’s housing policies and programs – a key element of a human rights-based approach.  

Tackling housing financialization 

Budget 2025 also commits to increasing the Canada Mortgage Bond annual issuance limit from $60 billion to $80 billion for multi-unit housing development.  This commitment aligns with other government policies that continue to fuel the financialization of housing by treating housing as a commodity rather than a human right. This includes tax loopholes, low interest borrowing, and inadequate regulation that incentivize financial actors to purchase rental housing for the sole purpose of maximizing profits for investors, rather than providing safe, secure, and affordable homes for renters. This leads to excessive rent increases, displacement, and evictions, with disproportionate impacts on equity-deserving communities.  

At the same time, governments at all levels continue to rely heavily on the private sector to build new housing, which has failed to produce housing that is affordable to lower income households. While there is some promise in Build Canada Homes’ focus on growing the community housing sector, the budget continues the government’s misguided approach of centralizing the private sector in its housing plans and policies

Next steps 

With few new investments, meagre mention of renters, and no targets to end housing need and homelessness, Budget 2025 fails to meet the current moment. Alongside our sector partners, we continue to urge the federal government to adopt evidence- and rights-based solutions to the housing and homelessness crisis. As we outlined in our pre-budget submission, this includes: 

  • Providing immediate support to renters and people experiencing homelessness, including by expanding the Canada Housing Benefit and Reaching Home program 
  • Protecting renters from excessive rents, unfair evictions, and other urgent issues, including by strengthening the Renters’ Bill of Rights and renter protection requirements under federal-provincial-territorial funding agreements 
  • Building and protecting deeply affordable housing, including by maximizing investments in the community housing sector, setting housing targets for equity-deserving communities, and restricting access to funding to housing projects that ensure long-term affordability, security, and other renter protections 
  • Combatting the financialization of housing, including by addressing fiscal and regulatory incentives that spur financialization and reducing reliance on the private sector, and 
  • Upholding housing as a human right, including by setting clear targets, timelines, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms to end homelessness and housing need and providing meaningful engagement opportunities for people with lived experience. 

On September 14, 2025, the federal government launched Build Canada Homes, a new agency responsible for affordable housing development across the country. Build Canada Homes aims to work with all levels of government, Indigenous, private, and non-profit partners to scale up the supply of affordable housing. It aims to coordinate federal leadership, provide financing and support construction innovation. The agency intends to primarily focus on supporting the growth of the non-market, community housing sector, including Indigenous, non-profit, co-operative, and public housing, with the goal of doubling housing construction, restoring affordability, and reducing homelessness.  

To begin, Build Canada Homes is investing $13 billion alongside access to federal lands, with four initial priority projects

  • Building 4,000 affordable mixed-income housing units in Dartmouth, Longueuil, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, and Edmonton 
  • Launching the $1.5 billion Canada Rental Protection Fund to support community housing providers to acquire private rental buildings 
  • Investing $1 billion in transitional and supportive housing projects, in partnership with provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners 
  • Building 700 public, affordable, and supportive housing units in partnership with the Nunavut Housing Corporation 

Below, we outline our areas of support and opportunities for improvement to ensure Build Canada Homes can help make meaningful progress on ending homelessness and housing need, reflecting our recent recommendations to the Build Canada Homes consultation. 

Areas of support 

After decades of government withdrawal from affordable housing, we welcome renewed federal leadership in affordable housing through Build Canada Homes. In particular, it is promising that Build Canada Homes aims to focus specifically on growing the supply of non-market, community housing, including through initial investments in transitional and supportive housing projects to help address and prevent homelessness. This responds directly to our recommendation and calls from across the housing sector to prioritize and maximize investments in the community housing sector. 

Canada’s current stock of community housing makes up only 3.5 per cent of our overall housing stock. This represents half of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average and is far below the recommended level of 20 per cent needed to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis. In the absence of a profit motive, the community housing sector can deliver housing that is affordable for the long-term and accessible to low-income and other marginalized households, with proven social and economic benefits. While it is encouraging to see Build Canada Homes’ focus on non-market, community housing, it will be critical to ensure that community housing providers play a lead role in housing delivery to help rebalance the supply of affordable housing across the country and ensure homes are genuinely affordable for those in greatest need. 

We also strongly support the incorporation of the Canada Rental Protection Fund into Build Canada Homes. This signals the government’s recognition of the importance of not only building new affordable housing, but protecting the existing stock of affordable housing, and the people who live there. This also responds directly to our recommendation to help preserve affordability and protect tenancies by supporting community housing providers to acquire private rental buildings. 

Currently, we are losing affordable housing faster than we can build it, due to excessive rent increases, demolitions, and conversions. Estimates show that for every home built under government-funded programs, Canada loses 11 affordable rental homes.  At the same time, new data shows that 28 per cent of people who have experienced homelessness have also experienced eviction, with disproportionate impacts on Indigenous, Black, and other racialized groups and significant physical and mental health implications. Moreover, evictions are increasingly due to landlord factors or renters’ inability to pay ever increasing rents, while homelessness rates continue to rise at an alarming rate (with recent data showing a nearly 80 per cent increase in homelessness since 2022). This demonstrates the importance of preserving existing affordability and protecting renters from excessive rent increases and evictions, to help stem the loss of affordable housing and prevent growing rates of homelessness. 

Finally, we are glad to see the focus on providing federal lands for affordable housing development, including through the incorporation of the Canada Lands Company into Build Canada Homes. This responds to our previous recommendations related to the Public Lands for Homes Plan. 

Given high land costs, prioritizing public land for non-market, community housing can help accelerate affordable housing development and ensure it remains affordable in perpetuity. Ensuring equitable access for Indigenous-led housing projects is critical to help advance reconciliation recognizing the forced displacement and dispossession of Indigenous peoples from their lands and the resulting disproportionate rates of Indigenous homelessness and housing need.  

Opportunities for improvement 

While it is promising to see the government acting quickly to launch Build Canada Homes, with initial projects focused on affordable, supportive, and transitional housing, it remains to be seen how the government will achieve the scale necessary to tackle the housing and homelessness crisis. Further details are also needed around the role that the private sector will play in Build Canada Homes, especially considering governments’ ongoing over-reliance on the private sector, which has failed to produce housing that is affordable to those in greatest need and fueled the financialization of housing.  

A recent report from the Federal Housing Advocate shows the need to build or acquire a minimum of 200,000 non-market homes per year over the next 30 years to address housing need and homelessness. This includes 100,000 deeply affordable housing units for people with low incomes (i.e., subsidized, rent-geared-to-income housing, including supportive and transitional housing). Recent research from Maytree shows this could be achieved through a $40 billion annual federal investment. 

With an initial $13 billion investment and less than 5,000 units announced to date (only some of which are targeted for those in greatest need), Build Canada Homes will need to demonstrate how it will scale up its impact, both in terms of investments and delivery of deeply affordable housing. Moreover, it will need to enforce strict affordability requirements (in addition to requirements related to other elements of the right to housing, such as security of tenure) to ensure it is delivering housing that meets the needs of those most impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis over the long-term. 

As part of Canada’s commitment to advance the right to housing under the National Housing Strategy Act and as a signatory to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the government is required to eliminate homelessness and realize the right to adequate housing for all in the shortest possible time, using all appropriate means and the maximum of available resources. This means that Build Canada Homes must go beyond its general focus on restoring affordability and reducing homelessness to prioritize those in greatest housing need by setting clear human rights-based targets, timelines, monitoring, and reporting mechanisms to end homelessness and housing need as quickly as possible. 

Reflecting our recommendations, Build Canada Homes should: 

  • Set clear targets for community housing investments, including by prioritizing and supporting the sector to build capacity and deliver large-scale deeply affordable housing projects 
  • Provide a clear, income-based definition of affordability to ensure housing is genuinely affordable to people with low and moderate incomes and remains affordable in perpetuity 
  • Require strong renter protections for the development and preservation of affordable housing, including against excessive rents, unfair evictions, disrepair, and discrimination 
  • Set specific housing targets for communities disproportionately impacted by the housing and homelessness crisis, including Indigenous peoples, women and gender diverse people, newcomers, and people with disabilities 
  • Develop strong monitoring and accountability mechanisms to measure and evaluate progress on reducing and preventing housing need and homelessness 
  • Provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with people with lived experience of housing need and homelessness, alongside housing and human rights experts and advocates 

Next steps 

Build Canada Homes represents a generational shift and renewed focus on affordable housing development and preservation across the country, with some promising initial commitments. If implemented through a human rights-based approach, it could make a meaningful impact on ending and preventing homelessness and housing need and upholding the right to housing for all.  

We look forward to further information on additional Build Canada Homes projects, priorities, and investments, including through the upcoming federal budget (expected on November 4, 2025). We will continue to work with sector partners to hold the government accountable to implementing evidence- and rights-based solutions to ensure everyone in Canada has access to a safe, secure, and affordable place to call home. 

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