Unsafe illegal multi-tenant homes allowed to operate in our communities. Putting people's lives at risk and encouraging greedy investors to buy up affordable housing without any consequences.

I am writing to raise urgent concerns regarding the continued growth of illegal multi-tenant homes within our community and the very real public safety risks they create for tenants, neighbours, and first responders.

I've had the privilege to live in the Cliffside community since 2018. I have amazing neighbors and a supportive school for my two daughters. I love the local businesses here and always try to support them when I can.

As a professional working in the forensic field, I bring a perspective that is shaped not by theory or policy discussion, but by direct exposure to the consequences of unsafe living environments. I have seen firsthand how preventable hazards — overcrowding, improper renovations, blocked exits, unsafe electrical modifications, and lack of fire safety compliance — can escalate into devastating outcomes. When housing operates outside regulatory oversight, it is not simply a bylaw issue; it becomes a matter of life safety.

I recently learned through a Facebook posting by the CSVSWRA there are ZERO properties that have a MTH license. How does that even happen?!?!

While the City’s Multi-Tenant Houses (MTH) Regulatory Framework was intended to improve oversight, significant loopholes continue to allow non-compliant operators to avoid accountability. As highlighted by community feedback and residents’ associations, many illegal rooming houses deliberately structure operations to fall outside the current definition of multi-tenant housing, effectively bypassing licensing and enforcement mechanisms.

These bad actors are exploiting systemic weaknesses:

1. Purchasing single-family homes and converting them into high-density rentals without proper permits or safety upgrades.
2. Using informal or disguised tenancy arrangements to avoid classification under the MTH framework.
3. Operating under fragmented enforcement systems where responsibility is split across departments, allowing violations to persist without meaningful consequence.
4. Profiting from vulnerable tenants who may be unaware of their rights or fearful of reporting unsafe conditions.

From my professional experience, the consequences of inaction are predictable and preventable. Overcrowded and illegally modified homes significantly increase the risk of fires, structural failures, and emergency access challenges. Each day that enforcement gaps remain open is another day that residents — often newcomers, students, or individuals facing financial pressures — are placed in unsafe environments.

Beyond the safety risks, these properties also destabilize neighbourhoods. Residents report ongoing issues related to excessive waste, parking congestion, property neglect, and intimidation. Community members who attempt to report violations frequently encounter a confusing and fragmented complaint process, leading to frustration and a loss of confidence in municipal oversight.

We cannot wait for tragedy to occur before meaningful action is taken. Other municipalities have already experienced fatal incidents tied to unsafe multi-tenant housing, underscoring the urgent need for proactive leadership rather than reactive response.

I respectfully urge the City to:

1. Close regulatory loopholes by expanding the definition of multi-tenant housing to include rooming house configurations currently operating outside the framework.
2. Establish coordinated enforcement protocols across Municipal Licensing & Standards, Toronto Fire Services, Building, and By-law enforcement to ensure faster, unified responses.
3. Modernize the 311 reporting system so multiple violations can be documented within a single complaint.
4. Increase proactive inspections targeting known high-risk properties rather than relying primarily on complaint-driven enforcement.
5. Strengthen accountability measures to deter exploitative operators who knowingly disregard safety requirements.

Safe housing and housing availability are not opposing goals — but illegal operations that sacrifice safety for profit undermine both. As someone who has seen the human consequences when safety standards fail, I strongly believe we have both a moral and civic responsibility to address these gaps now.