As with most landlord-tenant situations, the best response is a collective one. If you live in an apartment building, most landlords’ applications for a rent increase will affect all the tenants in the building. As a group you can share the time it takes to research and review the landlord’s application, and you can share the cost of possibly hiring a lawyer or agent to challenge the landlord’s rent increase. The City of Toronto has also set up a fund to assist tenants in paying for a lawyer or agent to fight an AGI (above-guideline rent increase).

Nonetheless, individual tenants can still challenge the landlord’s AGIs for an entire high-rise apartment building. Representing yourself at the hearing without a lawyer or agent is allowed.

Please contact the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations’ Outreach and Organizing Team at 416-413-9442 for more information and assistance in applying for a Tenant Defense Grant if your building qualifies.

http://www.torontotenants.org/