Are you interested? If yes, please email solo@solo.ca with your name, rental address, contact phone # and a short summary of what you experienced. Expect to be interviewed live or on Zoom. We are expecting a landslide of responses. If that occurs the responses can also be used for statistical information and advocacy efforts regarding Bill 10.

Example:

• tenants moved in to my property in (Month) (Year)

• I knew something was wrong and contacted Police X times (put dates if available)

• I experienced (# of people approximately) coming to the property daily

• The Police said …….

• Did the Police help in any way? Provide incident #’s? Any paperwork to assist you in a hearing? Lay any charges?

• Damages? How were you impacted?

• Do you feel you were supported by law enforcement?

• What was your experience when you tried to address this at the LTB?

As we continue to advocate for you, please share this email with any contacts you have that may have experienced drug trafficking on their properties and introduce them to Solo. Vetted members should register here https://members.solo.ca and then register for the 8500 member face book group (where all the action is).

There is a current situation in Chatham where a landlord’s property is being targeted. If you’re in the Chatham area and can assist please send an email titled: Chatham and information will be sent to you.

#letsgo

!

In a constructive and candid meeting at Queen’s Park, Tracy Tong, board member and representative of Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc. (SOLO), met met on Friday February 27th, 2026 with Billy Pang, a Progressive Conservative Member of Provincial Parliament, to discuss growing concerns about protections for small landlords in Ontario.

At the heart of the discussion was the ongoing crisis at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) — the provincial tribunal responsible for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants. Small landlords across Ontario continue to face significant delays in hearings, particularly in cases involving rental arrears. For many, those delays translate into months of unpaid rent, mounting mortgage obligations, and financial distress.

Continued on Solo.ca website.

We’re excited to introduce Vikram Dhanju, a seasoned Mortgage Broker and Tax Accountant, to the Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario community.

Vikram brings a rare and powerful combination of expertise that’s especially valuable for small landlords, including:

* Strategic mortgage structuring for investment properties

* Refinancing and leverage planning to support portfolio growth

* Tax planning and optimization tailored to rental income

* Guidance on deductions, cash-flow efficiency, and long-term wealth planning

* Expertise in advanced strategies such as Rental Cash Damming and the Smith Manoeuvre

With experience across both financing and taxation, Vikram helps landlords make more informed, holistic decisions—an increasingly important advantage in today’s complex and fast-changing market.

We’re thrilled to welcome Vikram as a SOLO-recommended professional and look forward to the insights and value he’ll bring to our community.

Welcome to SOLO, Vikram!

Vikram Dhanju

905-699-6681

broker@vikrammortgage.com

Smith Manoeuvre www.mortgagerefund.ca

vikram@profuturetax.com

*************************************************************************************************************

Topic: Solo Webinar - Rental Cash Damming & Smith Manoeuvre Introduction

Time: Jan 15, 2026 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81357734368?pwd=B58ATvbtjwkz9badlAVFxPVAlQneaj.1

Meeting ID: 813 5773 4368
Passcode: 636928

Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/81357734368/invitations?signature=F8myG_t-ow0ZcRYMldOLZx-eoc86WJaEfx4Yg4R_J9U

Hidden strategies to save you thousands of dollars every year!

TORONTO, ON — Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc. (SOLO), a province-wide not-for-profit organization representing small rental housing providers and a registered lobby group at Queen’s Park, today announced the appointment of Rose Marie as its new President of the Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026.

Ms. Rose will succeed Kevin Costain, who will step down from the Board’s Directorship on December 31, 2025, after serving in a leadership role during a period of significant change in Ontario’s rental housing sector.

Rose Marie is well known across Ontario’s landlord community for her hands-on advocacy and direct support of small-scale rental providers. She has worked extensively with landlords in urban, suburban, and rural communities, offering one-on-one assistance and practical guidance on issues such as Landlord and Tenant Board processes, compliance with provincial housing legislation, and policy impacts affecting small ownership housing.

“Small landlords provide a substantial portion of Ontario’s rental housing supply, yet they often lack the resources of large corporate operators,” said a spokesperson for SOLO. “Rose Marie has consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of these challenges and a strong commitment to ensuring small landlords have a clear and credible voice in provincial policy discussions.”

As President, Ms. Rose will lead the Board at a time when rental housing affordability, supply, and regulatory reform remain central issues at the Ontario Legislature. SOLO regularly engages with Members of Provincial Parliament, ministries, and stakeholders on legislation and regulations affecting rental housing providers across the province.

The organization also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing President Kevin Costain, whose tenure helped strengthen SOLO’s advocacy presence at Queen’s Park and expand its engagement with landlords throughout Ontario.

Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc. reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for balanced, evidence-based rental housing policies that recognize the role of small ownership landlords in maintaining housing stability for Ontario residents.

About Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc.

Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc. is a not-for-profit organization representing small rental housing providers throughout Ontario. SOLO advocates for fair, evidence-based rental housing policies and is a registered lobby organization at the Ontario Legislature.

Media Contact:
Small Ownership Landlords Ontario Inc.
Email: info@solo.ca

Liv.rent is a rental platform across 9 of Canada’s largest cities. Their base started in western Canada, came to Toronto in 2020 and they have plans to further increase their presence in eastern Canada starting early 2026.

The attached survey link is specific to Solo landlords. We are always looking for statistics and are asking for your support to fill out the survey consisting of only 8 questions. This survey will end on Jan 14, 2026 and we should receive the Canada-wide results by mid-February. If you City is not on the survey, select Other.

Note: If you wish to enter your email address at the end of the survey you will be entered to win one of 10 (ten) $50 Uber Eats gift cards. Your email is not required to complete the survey.

https://forms.office.com/r/H3uYzcbpCq

Thank you in advance for participating!

Here’s What’s Happening Now

Every day, your constituents face hardship and injustices within the residential housing system in Ontario. Their stories highlight the urgent need for reform and targeted solutions to protect Ontario tenants and landlords alike.

Evicted tenants in Richmond Hill caused $300,000 in damage before moving out, then filing for bankruptcy
(MPP Michael Parsa)

Kathy Liu, a single mother, rented her sole investment property to tenants who fell behind in rent payments from Nov. 2023, and stopped paying rent in Mar. 2024. She filed with the LTB and after over a year, she received an eviction order for Feb. 2025.

On the day before eviction, the tenants emailed a video stating the house had been flooded. Kathy was shocked to discover the home had suffered catastrophic water damage, from the second floor down to the basement. She immediately hired a plumber and contacted her insurance.

Further investigation showed the tenants had cancelled the electricity and moved out since October 2024, and the video had been taken in January 2025. The water damage resulted in over $300,000 in estimated losses, and full reconstruction is ongoing, claimed from her own insurance.

The tenants had withheld mail, misled the LTB court, and pretended they still occupied the home. They changed their surname and filed for bankruptcy making it impossible for Kathy to recoup any costs. She also visited the York Region police who said her case was a civil issue.

Kathy has personally suffered extreme mental and financial stress, covering emergency repairs, child care costs, unpaid utilities, and missed rental payments of over $80,000.

Kathy says: “I have experienced severe emotional trauma, stress, and sleep loss, and this has also affected my physical health.”

MPP Michael Parsa, can you help?

Etobicoke resident and accidental landlord still waiting to evict tenants with over $31,000 in arrears
(MPP Lee Fairclough)

Sadaf S., a small business owner in Etobicoke, decided to earn extra income by renting the ground-level suite of her home on Airbnb. What started as a one-day stay in Jul. 2024 became months when her tenants refused to leave, and the police wouldn’t remove them.

In Dec. 2024, the tenants stopped paying the full rent, but as they had not signed a lease, there was nothing Sadaf could legally do. Finally, in May 2025, the situation was formally recognized as a tenancy by the LTB and Sadaf was able to file for an eviction for non-payment of rent in Jun. 2025.

The hearing took place in Sep. 2025. While the adjudicator acknowledged the arrears, the hearing was adjourned due to other matters filed by the tenants.

Through all this, the tenants harassed her, changed locks, installed cameras without permission, and denied Sadaf entry to the property. They also filed 4,000 pages of evidence against her, including documents manipulated by AI.

Sadaf says, “I’ve never experienced anything like this in my life. How can people who don’t pay rent for almost a year be allowed to stay? I’m not a large corporation. I’m just a regular person who is now under serious financial, emotional and mental stress. Please help.”

MPP Lee Fairclough, can you help?

Niagara-on-the-Lake tenants over $25,000 in arrears after almost one full year of not paying rent
(MPP Jennifer Stevens and MPP Wayne Gates)

In 2021, St. Catherines resident, Saqib Khattak, rented his Niagara-on-the-Lake property to low income tenants and their four children at $400 below market rate.

In Jan. 2025, the tenants decided to stop paying rent, accumulating over $25,000 in arrears for rent and utilities. Despite offering a payment plan, Saqib received no response and filed an N4 eviction for non-payment of rent. However, he made a small error in the application and had to start over.

Saqib also filed an eviction for persistently late payment of rent, but this was dismissed by the LTB because he had an N4 filed.

Finally, a hearing on Sep. 9 resulted in an eviction date on Nov. 3., but with wait times for the Sheriff, the tenants will have lived without paying rent in his property for almost one full year.

Saqib says: “It’s heart-breaking. I did my best to help a family in need and even gave them $1,500 to pay for food over the years. Now I’m in debt and need to wait one year to get back my home. Is this fair to small landlords like me?”

MPP Stevens and MPP Gates, please help.

A Call to Action

Over the past five years, Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO) has been supporting our more than 8,500 small-scale housing providers—our members—to navigate the residential housing system in Ontario.

Since 2020, we have seen the residential housing system break-down, with long delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) creating the rise of “professional tenants” and related online groups, creating an unfair system for small landlords—all of whom are small business owners—who provide over 30% of rental housing in Ontario.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has a backlog of 53,000 cases according to the latest LTB report. 60% of LTB cases are regarding rental arrears.

We are calling for your support to streamline the process for uncontested cases of non-payment of rent. Specifically, we propose handling these cases administratively, without requiring a full hearing—similar to systems already in place in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This would significantly reduce the backlog at the LTB, and contribute to a fairer residential housing system for tenants and landlords in Ontario.

Please contact us if you would like to continue the conversation, or sign-up for our newsletter at https://news.solo.ca.

Sincerely,

solo@solo.ca
(647) 792-4951
www.solo.ca

To everyone who’s already stepped forward to volunteer — thank you.

Your time, your voice, and your heart for Ontario’s landlords keep this movement alive.

If you’ve applied and haven’t heard back yet, don’t worry. We’re expanding fast and building our teams in waves. You’re on the list, and your turn is coming. The patience and trust you’ve shown mean more than you know.

Now, we’re opening the doors again and inviting a new wave of volunteers who want to make an impact where it counts.

Webinar Moderator / Assistants
Support me, Jordan Nieuwhof, during our weekly Open Forum Webinar (Thursdays, 7–9 PM).
Join early at 6:45 to admit guests, manage the chat, and keep things running smoothly.
It’s one hour that makes a difference.

Administrative Assistants (2 Positions)
Be the bridge that connects landlords to trusted resources.
You’ll verify memberships, organize our database, and link verified members to our Facebook group and Substack updates.
Quiet work with Big Impact.

Fraud Team Projects (Multiple Roles)
If you’re detail-driven and passionate about protecting others, this is your spot. Help us track fraudulent activity, organize FOI requests, build sheriff contact lists, and strengthen landlord safety through verified data. This is hands-on, real-world work that matters.

Every role matters. Every volunteer shifts the ground a little stronger under Ontario’s landlords.

If you’re ready to step in, message us directly at coordinator@solo.ca

For the IT specialists who volunteered to manage the membership database, please hold tight. We have identified that the role here is more administrative. If any of the above positions appeal to you please let us know

.

#SOLO #LandlordSupport #OntarioHousing #VolunteerWithPurpose #CommunityDriven #MakeAnImpact

SOLO is going to begin the webinar with a Fraud update. Come and learn which cases we are working on in Superior Court.  The Fraud Team has been working diligently to bring a few professional tenants to justice.

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/.../tenant-risk-leasing...

SOLO Landlords — Ready to Lease Smarter?

Tenant risk is one of the biggest challenges landlords face — missed rent, evictions, and vacancies can cost thousands. On top of that, by the time you’ve paid for credit checks, screening fees, lost time, and vacancy, getting a tenant into your unit can easily run $500–$1,000+.

That’s why we built LeaseConfirm:

• Tenants pull and pay for their own TransUnion full credit report (no cost to you)

• Clear Tenant Risk Analyzer rating (High / Medium / Low)

• End-to-end management: list → screen → sign → collect → report to Equifax

• Earn LeasePoints rewards on every lease

All-in-one, built with Canadian landlords in mind.

Why this webinar?

We’re bringing SOLO landlords together to show how LeaseConfirm reduces risk, saves money, and simplifies the rental process from start to finish.

Topic: Tenant Risk & Leasing Smarter with LeaseConfirm

• Thursday, Sept 25, 2025 | 7:00 PM ET | Zoom

Special Incentives for Attendees:

• The first 20 landlords to register get FREE 1-year access to LeaseConfirm (2 spots already gone — 18 left!)

• Raffle draw: 5 attendees win Amazon eGift Cards

• Everyone who attends earns LeasePoints

s

❓ Weiting, the co-funder of Openroom will take your questions and explain more about recent changes we've seen on the platform. Registration and the event is free, and you can ask a question as you sign up.

📓 Openroom is HERE TO STAY and they've done a ton of work to make the platform more sustainable. Let's learn together!

🌍 Register here: solo.ca/event

If you cant make it, no problem. We will be recording the event. Be sure to register event if you can’t attend and ask a question – you’ll also get on the list to be notified of the recording when it's available.

If you haven’t yet, subscribe to our mailing list for more from SOLO:

Subscribe now

Part one looks at SOLO housing provider Farzana and her tenants and their shocking and storied past leading up to more than $20,000 in unpaid rent, utilities and damages. Incredibly, Lincoln actually confronts the tenants on camera:

In part two, Rose is interviewed describing more about SOLO, recent statistics at the LTB and how our landlords have been fighting back:

The full series is well on its way to be being one of the the most-viewed at the Rebel News’ YouTube page. If you can, please share these videos widly so we can ge thte word out. This is one more way that SOLO is working hard to advocate for small landlords.

If you have a story you'd like to share, please reach out to Rebel tips@rebelnews.com. SOLO continues to reach out to media outlets to get these stories out. For updates, please see solo.ca/inthemedia. If you would like to register as a vetted SOLO landlord, please click here.

Please subscribe our mailing list for more news from SOLO:

Subscribe now

Here’s What’s Happening Now

Every day, your constituents face hardship and injustices within the residential housing system in Ontario. Their stories highlight the urgent need for reform and targeted solutions to protect Ontario tenants and landlords alike. This is a special edition highlighting how some professional tenants are taking advantage of the broken Ontario residential system, including bankruptcy, to avoid eviction for years without paying rent.

Professional tenants didn't pay rent for over two years, costing small landlord in Oshawa over $100,000
(MPP Jennifer K. French)

Abir Hassan rented his property to tenants in April 2023, not knowing they provided false information. They were professional tenants who knew how to play the system, and they never paid rent. After trying to contact them, Abir finally filed at the LTB to evict them for non-payment of rent.

Over the next 2+ years, Abir filed over 11 applications and evidence packages, attended six hearings, witnessed damage to the property, took abuse by his tenants, yet they received an adjournment and four stays of eviction despite never paying rent.

In Feb 2025, when the tenants’ fourth request for a review was denied and an eviction set for 13 Feb 2025, Abir and his family believed their ordeal was finally over. But the tenants filed for bankruptcy on 12 Feb 2025, and the eviction was not enforced—an error in the system.

Abir then had to navigate The Superior Court of Justice and Bankruptcy Court to undo the error, which took over three months, giving more time for the tenants to live rent-free in his property.

They finally got their property back on May 20, 2025, over two years later, and with over $100,000 in missed rent, damages to the property, and legal fees they are unlikely to recover.

Abir says, “The system has broken me and my family mentally, emotionally and financially. We have been let down by the system and by the LTB. There is no justice. Please fix this so no one else will experience this nightmare.”

MPP Jennifer French, can you help?

Guelph Landlord lost $100,000 after professional tenants stopped paying rent and filed for bankruptcy
(MPP Mike Schreiner)

Juan and Yesenia Monterroza are modest Canadian citizens who raised two children and worked hard to purchase their first and only investment property in Guelph. Unfortunately, their tenants decided to stop paying rent in Feb 2023.

Over the next 2.5 years, Juan and his family would lose close to $90,000 in missed rent payments, spend countless hours and over $10,000 in legal fees and proceedings, and watch their property be destroyed by "professional tenants” who knew how to take advantage of the system to avoid eviction while not paying rent. The tenants knew it would take months to schedule hearings at the LTB. Then hearings would be adjourned due to over-scheduling. When hearings took place and orders were issued, the tenants filed requests and managed to stay evictions.

In Feb 2024, one of the three tenants filed for bankruptcy which wiped the $43,646 in arrears clean. They continued to not pay rent. Then another tenant filed for bankruptcy. Then another. Each time, Juan and his family had to re-start proceedings.

In April 2024, Juan's bank initiated the process to repossess the home for non-payment of the mortgage, and another creditor threatened to repossess his primary residence. Numerous issues with the tribunal and court systems, such as admin and other errors, added time and stress to the situation.

After living in a mental and financial nightmare, including health issues manifesting from the stress, Juan and his family finally got their property back on June 16, 2025.

Juan says, “The past few years have been a nightmare. My family and I are honest people, but now we are close to ruin. The system has failed us. There is no justice. The tenants knew how to play the system, and they took full advantage. No one protected us.”

MPP Mike Schreiner, can you help?

Did You Know?

In 2005, the U.S. updated their bankruptcy laws to prevent tenants from avoiding eviction by filing for bankruptcy. This change allowed landlords to evict tenants, regardless of an automatic stay from bankruptcy, so long as the landlord had a court-ordered judgment for possession prior to the tenant filing for bankruptcy.

Canada would benefit from a similar update to our Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act. Tenants who do not pay rent, and who have been ordered to return a property to their landlord, should not be able to file for bankruptcy to avoid eviction.

These common-sense protections serve to encourage Canadians to continue to invest in Canada, rather than move their investments to the U.S.

The SOLO community has come together to donate their time, expertise and funds over the past few years to support our members, including Abir and Juan, to navigate the LTB as well as The Superior Court of Justice and Bankruptcy courts.

Thank you to Boubacar Bah, Tiffiny Cook-Corradetti, Kevin Costain, Hafeez Hussain, Rose Marie, Pamela O'Hagan, Michele from Catalyst Investigations, and numerous other individuals and small businesses including paralegals and lawyers, private investigators, professional home inspectors, property managers and more, who came together to support our members to get their properties back after the tenants decided to stop paying rent. It would not have been possible without you.

A Call to Action

Over the past five years, Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO) has been supporting our more than 8,500 small-scale housing providers—our members—to navigate the residential housing system in Ontario.

Since 2020, we have seen the residential housing system break-down, with long delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) creating the rise of "professional tenants” and related online groups, creating an unfair system for small landlords—all of whom are small business owners—who provide over 30% of rental housing in Ontario.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has a backlog of 53,000 cases according to the latest LTB report. 60% of LTB cases are regarding rental arrears.

We are calling for your support to streamline the process for uncontested cases of non-payment of rent. Specifically, we propose handling these cases administratively, without requiring a full hearing—similar to systems already in place in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This would significantly reduce the backlog at the LTB, and contribute to a fairer residential housing system for tenants and landlords in Ontario.

Please contact us if you would like to continue the conversation, or sign-up for our newsletter at https://news.solo.ca.

Register to become a member at http://solo.ca/register.

Best regards,
SOLO Team

solo@solo.ca
(647) 792-4951
www.solo.ca

Board Member Kevin will be a featured speaker at the Investor Summit, June 26, 2025 at Crossroads Unity Commons in Burlington, Ontario. The event runs the full day.

If you can make it, come and say hi!

💰 SOLO members get 40% off the ticket price using the promo code SOLOFORTY.

🌎 More details on tickets can be found at investorsummit.ca

SOLO is always working on ways to advocate for small landlords and get the word out about a healthy and fair rental market. If you would like to get in touch, please reach out.

Here’s What’s Happening Now

Every day, your constituents face hardship and injustices within the residential housing system in Ontario. Their stories highlight the urgent need for reform and targeted solutions to protect Ontario tenants and landlords alike.

Mississauga Tenant Who Listened to Advice from "Tenant Advocacy” Groups Became a Professional Tenant
(MPP Deepak Anand)

Sobey Thomas renovated a basement property into a new home, and rented it out in Oct. 2019. Immediately, the tenant began to make daily complaints, abuse neighbours, and damage the property.

He began to receive 3 to 5 calls per day regarding various issues. In good faith, he invested money to fix issues she created, some maliciously, including duct cleaning, fixing the kitchen sink and faucets, replacing the (new) washing machine, and fixing electrical switches and stove elements multiple times. The upstairs neighbours moved out due to her abuse.

Later, he saw on social media that his tenant was receiving advice from “tenant advocacy” groups, including advice that if she caused damage and the LL stopped fixing things, she could claim abatement.

Finally, in Mar. 2022, Sobey issued an N5 and filed with the LTB. The tenant then threatened him with civil extortion. He was shaken, but stood his ground. The tenant moved out in May 2022, but she caused $10,000 in damages. He also discovered she had provided false documents to acquire the tenancy, yet the police said they could do nothing.

His hearing was adjourned four times, and finally held in Mar. 2025 where the adjudicator told him “don't even expect to get the order in 90 days” due to delays.

Sobey says: “I have sold in Ontario and am investing in the USA instead where laws are more fair.”

***

Georgetown Tenants Stopped Paying Rent and Caused Over $26,000 in Damages When Legally Evicted
(MPP Joseph Racinsky)

In Apr. 2023, Rebecca Barretto and Jason Pierce were informed by the town that their recently purchased property was not registered as a two-unit house and were ordered to return it to a single-family unit. They served an eviction notice and, through an “urgent” hearing, received an eviction order for Nov. 30, 2023.

In Aug. 2023, the tenants stopped paying rent and began to cause extensive damage to the property, including pouring cheese into air vents, graffitiing walls, damaging the concrete foundation, and more.

The tenants moved out on Nov. 30, 2023, but with $3,600 in arrears and after causing over $26,000 in damages.

Over the past two years, Rebecca and Jason hired a paralegal, served multiple notices, attended six hearings, and finally received an order requiring the tenants to pay for the damages in Apr. 2025.

They will now need to go back to Small Claims Court to ask for garnishment of wages.

Rebecca says: “The whole process has been so painful, and has caused so much stress and financial hardship. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. What can be done to improve the LTB?”

MPP Joseph Racinsky, can you help?

***

Ottawa Professional Tenants Over $35,000 in Arrears After Playing the System for 16 Months
(MPP John Fraser)

Jairo Vargas unknowingly rented his Ottawa property to “professional tenants” in Dec. 2023. They never paid rent. When he realized what was happening, he filed for an eviction in Feb. 2024. The hearing was scheduled for May 13, but was adjourned due to over-scheduling, and rescheduled to Aug. 2024, where he won his case.

Unfortunately, despite continuing to not pay rent, the tenants were granted a review, which took place in Oct. 2024. A payment plan was issued in Nov. 2024. On Dec. 27, 2024, the LTB issued another eviction. Jairo was relieved, but the tenants applied for an extension, which was granted. He has since learned there are at least four previous LTB cases against his tenants.

A new hearing was set for Mar. 2025. Finally, on Apr. 18, 2025, with over $35,000 in lost rent over 16 months, Jairo filed an eviction with the Sheriff, which he hopes will take place in May or June.

Jairo says: “Tenants are able to manipulate the system, and the LTB enables systematic abuse. Neither the LTB nor the government seems to be listening to small landlords, who are struggling both financially and mentally, while trying to cope with those who exploit the system.”

MPP John Fraser, can you help?

***

Small Ownership Landlords in Ontario (SOLO) represents over 8,500 members. Our mission is to promote the fair treatment of Ontario small-scale housing providers and tenants by advocating for policies that encourage long-term investments in affordable and healthy residential housing.

According to Statistics Canada, there are 695,000 “mom and pop” housing providers (with one investment property) who provide 30% of rental housing in Ontario.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has a backlog of 53,000 cases according to the latest LTB report. 60% of LTB cases are regarding rental arrears.

We are calling for your support to streamline the process for uncontested cases of non-payment of rent. Specifically, we propose handling these cases administratively, without requiring a full hearing—similar to systems already in place in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This would significantly reduce the backlog at the LTB, and contribute to a fairer residential housing system for tenants and landlords in Ontario.

Please contact us if you would like to continue the conversation, or sign-up for our newsletter at https://news.solo.ca.

Thanks and regards,

SOLO Team

solo@solo.ca
(647) 792-4951
www.solo.ca

If you would like to support SOLO, you can make a donation here or contact us for volunteer opportunities.

Chair Kevin Costain and Vice-Chair Rose Marie appeared at a Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury Council meeting. We were able to discuss our efforts to support small landlords and show support for the recent Bradford motion compelling the province to act on the housing crisis. We thank the town of Bradford for their hospitality and engaged response to our presentation.

See the 23 min presentation below:

Now, the FREE event:

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, our friends at Openroom are having an amazing event with an Ontario Sheriff. As you know, eviction in Ontario can only take place after a Landlord and Tenant Board order, and then the involvement of a Sheriff. We’re excited to see the kinds of insights that will come learning from someone who knows.

Simply head on over to our member’s area to see more about this event and how to register. If you haven’t yet registered, it’s free and painless. Do that here.

Also in May:

We’re hosting a Windsor Meetup on May 24, 2025. Those in Essex County and the Windsor area can come out and meet other small landlords in what promises to be be a spirited event!

Date: May 24th, 2025
Time: 2 pm to 8 pm
Place: Brews & Cues
Address: 5663 Ojibway Parkway, Windsor, ON N9C 4J5

Find out more and how to get tickets here.

Here’s What’s Happening Now

Every day, your constituents face hardship and injustices within the residential housing system in Ontario. Their stories highlight the urgent need for reform and targeted solutions to protect Ontario tenants and landlords alike.

Etobicoke Small Business Owner Unable to Live in Own Property When Laws Changed After Purchase (MPP Lee Fairclough)

My Le and her family own a small family business named 1925Workbench making handmade doors and furniture in Etobicoke. In 2016, they purchased a small building that would become their workshop (ground floor) with an apartment (second floor). At the time, their lawyer recommended they purchase the property under their corporation. They decided to rent the apartment while they established the workshop and built the business.

In 2017, laws changed preventing corporations from filing N12 Notice to End your Tenancy Because the Landlord Requires the Rental Unit. When My Le was ready to move her family into the apartment on the second floor in 2023, she was shocked to discover that her N12 was not valid given changes to the law.

Since then, she has filed numerous times at the LTB and even offered the tenant money to move, but the tenant, who works at a law firm, asked for 4 times the amount offered instead, and the LTB application was denied. Now, My Le, her husband, and their two children live together in a basement apartment, still waiting to get their property back.

My Le says, "All of our money and all of our hard work is in there. It's not fair the laws changed after we had already purchased the property."

MPP Lee Fairclough, can you help?

Brant Landlord and Small Business Owner Faces Severe Financial and Personal Stress Due to the Slow LTB (MPP Will Bouma; MPP Brian Riddel)

Michael Hilborn purchased a commercial building in February 2023, including a house next door with tenants, without knowing the history. Later, he discovered the previous owners had been forced to sell because of continual threats, harassment and distraction from their primary business by the tenants.

Michael then faced the same situation with police involvement and incurred significant financial loss due to the tenants’ mischief. As part of the harassment, the tenants also filed with the LTB that Michael did not maintain the unit but he had receipts for every claim, except a basement issue which cannot be fixed.

They say they will sue in Superior Court, but now Michael will demolish the house due to deficiencies identified by the Grand River Conservation Authority. Unfortunately, the "60-day" N13 notice has taken 18 months instead, causing financial hardship.

Michael says, “I've lost $300,000 due to the tenants' harassment, incurred $7,000 in legal fees and $30,000 in property repairs related to tenant damages. I discovered too late that landlords have no rights. This is the most costly financial mistake of my life. I will never be a landlord again.”

Sudbury Landlord Emotionally Distressed Watching his Property Destroyed While Waiting for the LTB (MPP Raymond Chow)

Ahmed Qureshi worked hard to purchase his investment property in 2021. He rented the property in July 2023 and had a good relationship with the tenant. But in March 2025, the tenant decided to stop paying rent and began to destroy the property.

Ahmed is not clear on what happened to his tenant, but he knows the tenant's girlfriend and a child left the property due to abuse. Also, the police have been called to the property multiple times, leading his neighbours to question what is happening. The tenant also began to damage the property with garbage piling up around the outside, and abusing utilities by leaving windows open and the water running.

Ahmed has been unable to access his property despite asking for police support. Since then, the utility bills have doubled. He hired a paralegal to file with the LTB and has a hearing scheduled four months after filing. Meanwhile, his neighbours do not feel safe, and the tenant continues to damage the property.

Ahmed says, “The property is getting destroyed. I am in financial difficulties, deeply stressed, and mentally depressed. Please help me.”

MPP Raymond Chow, can you help?

Small Ownership Landlords in Ontario (SOLO) represents over 8,500 members. Our mission is to promote the fair treatment of Ontario small-scale housing providers and tenants by advocating for policies that encourage long-term investments in affordable and healthy residential housing.

According to Statistics Canada, there are 695,000 “mom and pop” housing providers (with one investment property) who provide 30% of rental housing in Ontario.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has a backlog of 53,000 cases according to the latest LTB report. 60% of LTB cases are regarding rental arrears.

We are calling for your support to streamline the process for uncontested cases of non-payment of rent. Specifically, we propose handling these cases administratively, without requiring a full hearing—similar to systems already in place in British Columbia, New Brunswick, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. This would significantly reduce the backlog at the LTB, and contribute to a fairer residential housing system for tenants and landlords in Ontario.

solo@solo.ca
(647) 792-4951
www.solo.ca

1. A Judge has signed the go ahead to lay charges on a tenant for bankruptcy fraud

2. A longtime LTB file has just received their eviction Order

3. A hearing date has been assigned in Superior court for criminal charges on a tenant

4. A landlord and a tenant are in an examination hearing right now. They have been requested to provide their Income Tax and Visa statements, Bank account statements within the past 24 months, their current lease agreement, birthdates and more.

5. The next MPP newsletter update will be issued this afternoon. That is issue # 5. MPP update newsletters have been produced by Board of Director, Tracy Tong. If you know a housing provider who would like to be added to our membership email list as a vetted landlord please ask them to register at this link members.solo.ca

6. Board of Director Kevin Costain will be making a presentation to Bradford city Council mid April regarding a motion that was passed requesting help for small-scale landlords.

7. Solo will be hosting an event in Windsor on May 24/25. Board of Directors Vera Makohoniuk and Bro Blad will be the hosts. If you are in the Windsor area and would like to attend get in touch at solo@solo.ca. The event link is solo.ca/meetup

8. A warrant will be issued soon for a company that has been producing fake application info, fake employment letters and fake paystub‘s

9. A hearing will be taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, April 2 for another long time situation. To observe any hearings go to solo.ca/hearings for those links.

10. If you are on the Solo face book group, please respond to the poll on “ how many doors have been taken off the market?” it is pinned at the top of the Facebook group.

11. Solo has something in the works happening with another news journalist. Keep sending in any issues you have had with RYPM.

12. The bankruptcy team worked all weekend (again!) preparing evidence.

13. Kudos to all the landlords that responded to a specific post on the Durham rental property Facebook group. Even tenants are responding that nonpayment of rent isn’t right and that it is affecting their rental options!

You still have time to get in! Tonight at 7PM we’re going to go live and talk about the brutal truths we’ve had to face as housing providers. You really don’t want to miss this.

Check out the list of speakers:

Kayla Andrade - President of Ontario Landlords Watch
Hart Togman - Co-Founder of Rent Panda
Steve Harmer - President of FrontLobby
Kevin Costain - Executive Director of SOLO
Danielle Chiasson - CEO Strategic Success Consulting

👉REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

Being a Landlord comes with a lot of surprises—some rewarding, some expensive.

From navigating lease agreements to handling unexpected maintenance, the learning curve can be steep—and costly. If you’re in this business long enough, you’ll find yourself thinking: I wish I knew that sooner.

That’s why I’m thrilled to be part of Landlord Lessons: If I Knew Then What I Know Now—a straight-talking, eye-opening webinar where experienced landlords share the hard lessons they wish someone had told them.

We’re talking about:

✅ The costly mistakes they’d never make again
✅ The smartest moves that saved them thousands
✅ The real talk they wish someone had told them sooner

And because this isn’t some sugar-coated seminar, we’re wrapping it up with an unfiltered Q&A—so you can get straight answers to your biggest landlord headaches.

📅 Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

⏰ Time: 7 PM – 8 PM EDT

💰 Cost: Absolutely FREE (but the lessons could save you thousands)

Set yourself up for success and gain the knowledge to make smarter, more confident decisions—before challenges become costly mistakes.

👉REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

We’ll see everyone tonight! SOLO appreciates your support.

One bad tenant, one overlooked clause in your lease, or one maintenance nightmare can cost you thousands. And if you’re in this game long enough, you’ll eventually say: I wish I knew that sooner.

That’s why we’re thrilled to be part of Landlord Lessons: If I Knew Then What I Know Now—a straight-talking, eye-opening webinar where experienced landlords share the hard lessons they wish someone had told them.

👉REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

We’re talking about:

✅ The costly mistakes they’d never make again
✅ The smartest moves that saved them thousands
✅ The real talk they wish someone had told them sooner

And because this isn’t some sugar-coated seminar, we’re wrapping it up with an unfiltered Q&A—so you can get straight answers to your biggest landlord headaches.

📅 Date: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
⏰ Time: 7 PM – 8 PM EDT
💰 Cost: Absolutely FREE (but the lessons could save you thousands)

Don’t wait until you’re knee-deep in eviction battles, repair bills, or tenant drama. Learn the lessons now—before they cost you big.

👉REGISTER FOR FREE HERE

Read the letter HERE.

SOLO often communicates with media outlets and we welcome the opportunity to get the word out. We encourage all SOLO members to reach out and send letters to your local media outlets; this is how we make change. SOLO is an organization of housing providers working to promote a strong and healthy rental ecosystem. If you are a rental provider and need help, please get in touch.

Note: You will notice a link to “acorn” at the top of the UofT web-page. Acorn refers to UofT’s internal IT systems.

His letter follows:

Dear SOLO Member,

I hope this message finds you well. My name is Steven Pham and I am a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto. I am conducting research on the practices and motivations of landlords in Ontario. My study aims to explore how various social and economic factors influence the business strategies, day-to-day property maintenance, and tenant interactions of landlords. Your participation would provide invaluable insights into the evolving role of landlords in today’s housing market. There is minimal risk associated with your participation.

What the Study Involves:

• Participation in one 2-hour virtual interview or two 1-hour virtual interviews

• Sharing your experiences and strategies as a landlord

Why Participate?

• Contribute to valuable research on landlord practices

• Help explore the impact of financial contexts on property management

During an interview, you have the right to skip/refuse to answer any questions at any point, or to withdraw from the interview and study entirely at any time without consequences. After an interview, you have the right to request that any information you volunteered be deleted from the study within 24 hours of the request without any consequences, and to stop any further participation in the study. You will remain anonymous – I will not link your identity to anything you say, or reveal it in any work that emerges from this research. Your information will remain confidential – I will not share interview transcripts or notes with anyone, and data will be destroyed 5 years after the study ends.

Your insights are crucial to understanding how landlords respond to changes in their varied contexts. All personal information will remain confidential and be anonymized and/or in any future publications.

If you are interested or have any questions about this study, please contact me directly at steven.pham@mail.utoronto.ca or 647-460-7074. The use of social media platforms is solely for recruitment purposes, and public posting has been disabled to ensure your privacy. I will only communicate with you via the email address provided.

If you have questions or concerns about your participation in this study and rights related to university research, you may wish to contact the University of Toronto Research Oversight and Compliance Office – Human Research Ethics Program (phone: 416-946-3273, email: ethics.review@utoronto.ca).

Thank you for considering this opportunity to contribute to my research.

Warm regards,

Steven Pham PhD Candidate Department of Geography and Planning University of Toronto
Phone: 647-460-7074
Email: steven.pham@mail.utoronto.ca

At SOLO we’re working hard to make changes. Please get involved. If you know anyone who might wish to subscribe to this list, please forward this to them.