Landlord-Tenant Relationships In Ontario: A Historical Perspective

Ontario's tenant protection laws have evolved over several decades, shaped by various provincial governments responding to housing market dynamics and tenant advocacy.​

Key Milestones in Ontario's Tenant Legislation

• 1944: Rent regulation was briefly introduced under the National Housing Act but was repealed within a decade.​

• 1975: The Residential Premises Rent Review Act was enacted, marking the beginning of modern rent control in Ontario.​

• 1979: The Residential Tenancies Act was introduced, further formalizing tenant protections.​

• 1985: The Liberal government tightened rent controls with the Residential Rent Regulation Act.​

• 1992: The New Democratic Party government passed the Rent Control Act, enhancing tenant protections.

• 1997: The Progressive Conservative government under Mike Harris enacted the Tenant Protection Act, which repealed the Rent Control Act and established the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal.​

• 2006: The Liberal government led by Dalton McGuinty replaced the Tenant Protection Act with the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and created the Landlord and Tenant Board to oversee disputes. 

• 2017: Premier Kathleen Wynne's government introduced the Fair Housing Plan, extending rent control to all private rental units, including those built after 1991. ​

• 2018: Premier Doug Ford's government rolled back the 2017 rent control expansion, exempting new units first occupied after November 15, 2018, from rent control. ​

• 2020: The Protecting Tenants and Strengthening Community Housing Act (Bill 184) was enacted, amending the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and introducing changes such as allowing landlords to offer repayment plans without Landlord and Tenant Board involvement and enabling applications for rent arrears up to 12 months after a tenant vacates. ​

  
  

Influences on Tenant Law Development

The evolution of Ontario's tenant laws has been influenced by various political parties, each bringing different perspectives:​

• Progressive Conservative Party: Implemented the Tenant Protection Act in 1997, shifting dispute resolution from courts to a tribunal system.​

• Liberal Party: Introduced the Residential Tenancies Act in 2006 and expanded rent control measures in 2017.​

• New Democratic Party (NDP): Known for advocating stronger tenant protections, including the Rent Control Act in 1992.​

  
  

These legislative changes reflect the province's ongoing efforts to balance the interests of tenants and landlords in response to economic conditions and housing market challenges. Main source: Wikipedia