Toronto Mayor Declares War on "Bad Landlords" with New Enforcement Motion After Bed Bug, Mice, and Mould Complaints

In a decisive move to protect tenants, Mayor Olivia Chow and Toronto’s executive committee have unanimously passed a motion titled “EX29.14 Cracking Down on Bad Landlords”. The initiative aims to end years of neglect at notorious properties, specifically targeting the dire living conditions at 500 Dawes Road.

Key Measures of the "Cracking Down on Bad Landlords" Motion

The new policy shifts the city from passive observation to active intervention. If the full council approves the plan on March 25, the city will gain several new tools to hold property owners accountable:

• Remedial Action: The city will now have the authority to perform emergency repairs themselves and bill the landlord for the costs.
• Cross-Divisional Database: By July, a public database will track all investigations and enforcement actions. This allows police, firefighters, and building inspectors to coordinate and stay informed about a building’s safety (e.g., unstable balconies).
• "Problem Building" Scrutiny: Any landlord with a massive backlog of repairs will have all of their properties investigated, not just the one under complaint.
• Colour-Coded Accountability: The RentSafeTO program will soon implement visible, colour-coded signage on buildings to reflect their maintenance status.

Focus on 500 Dawes Road

The building at 500 Dawes has become the face of this crisis with residents reporting rampant mould, mice, and bedbug infestations.

"We have to send a message to these slumlords that we will not tolerate their behaviour," Mayor Chow stated. "It’s just a horrific way to live".

Under this motion, the city will specifically investigate other properties owned by 500 Dawes landlord Carolyn Krebs including 608 Dawes Rd., 210 Oak St., and 171 St. Clair Ave. East.

The City of Toronto has officially triggered its Remedial Action authority to address the decaying conditions at 500 Dawes Road. The work has officially started as announced by Toronto Mayor, Olivia Chow. This power allows the City to bypass landlord negligence by hiring its own contractors to finish essential repairs and later sending the bill directly to the property owner.

The push for compliance follows a significant legal blow to the landlord who was recently fined $200,000 by an Ontario Court. This penalty stems from over 40 property standard violations dating back to 2024.

While 500 Dawes has been notorious for decades due to reports of pests and hazardous living conditions, this year marks a shift in strategy. After years of ineffective warnings, the City is finally utilizing strengthened enforcement tools to force accountability.

Systemic Challenges

While the motion was met with praise from tenants like Ryan Endoh, some officials warn of uphill battles. Councillor Gord Perks, Chair of the Planning and Housing Committee, criticized the provincial Residential Tenancies Act claiming it "tilts the scales" in favour of landlords and hinders municipal enforcement.