A new Ontario rental registry aims to improve transparency and affordability in the province’s residential rental market.
Developed by the public interest organisation Vivre en Ville, this free, open data platform allows renters access to detailed rental property histories across Ontario, including past and current rent prices, monthly electricity charges, pet permissions, and other specific unit characteristics.
The purpose of the registry is threefold: to empower renters to make better-informed decisions; to curb above-market rent increases; and to provide policymakers with valuable data to address Canada’s affordable housing crisis.
To date, the registry has received around 41,000 submissions – just over 2% of Ontario’s 1.7 million renter households.
For property managers and landlords, this new Ontario rental registry may mean more questions and price negotiations from prospective tenants. More so than usual, they might need to be prepared to provide clear explanations for any rent increases in the current market.
It’s also important to note that the registry relies on self-reporting and does not vet submissions, which may lead to inaccuracies. It may be up to property managers and landlords to verify or refute any information prospective tenants find on the registry – or they may have to take the matter up with the registry itself.
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