Hamilton MPP Sarah Jama pushes to eliminate above guideline rent increases

Hamilton’s Independent MPP Sarah Jama plans to table three new motions aimed at making rent more affordable for Ontarians.

The MPP made the announcement on social media Friday, calling Ontario “unlivable,” when referring to the high cost of rent and the lack of resources and considerations given to tenants across the province.

The first motion she plans to introduce focuses on eliminating above-guideline rent increases (AGIs).

For the most part, rent increases in Ontario are capped at 2.5 per cent (as of 2024) however, landlords may apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for an exemption.

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Jama points out that the number of AGI’s submitted by landlords has doubled in Ontario since 2003, and points out that twenty landlords have in Ontario filed over half of the 470 applications made out to the LTB in the first eight months of 2022.

She goes on to argue that AGI’s are a common tactic landlords use to price out their tenants in an attempt to evict them.

The second motion she plans to pitch would establish collective bargaining rights for tenants. It’s a bid that would allow tenants to organize and petition for rent decreases in circumstances where landlords fail to uphold their duties.

Her third proposed motion advocates for those with disabilities and aims to introduce new rules that would ensure people with disabilities have access to housing that is affordable, adaptable and ultimately accessible.

The Independent MPP says the three motions will be tabled on Monday.

Ontario has become unlivable. To rectify this, I'm tabling a set of motions alongside @hamiltonacorn and the Accessible Housing Network of Ontario next Monday to push @fordnation to:

-Eliminate Above Guideline Rent Increases 1/ pic.twitter.com/1toONmLGb6

— Sarah Jama (@SarahJama_) May 8, 2024