City councillor calls for stronger enforcement against fraudulent evictions

Toronto councillor Josh Matlow wants the city to take a more active role in protecting tenants from fraudulent evictions.

Matlow has proposed using RentSafeTO inspectors to help identify rogue landlords and gather evidence for police.

According to Matlow, tenants at the receiving end of bad-faith evictions are often forced to investigate suspected wrongdoing themselves, gather evidence, and navigate complex legal proceedings without the resources typically available to landlords.

The proposal comes roughly a year after Toronto introduced its Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw, which was designed to curb "renovictions” – when tenants are pushed out under the false pretense of major renovations.

While Matlow supported the bylaw, he argues it has not been enough to hold landlords accountable when they continue to abuse the system.

Critics of the motion say landlord-tenant disputes should remain the sole responsibility of the Landlord and Tenant Board, and warn that involving police could place additional strain on the criminal justice system.