1. Call for Action: Tenants and members of Waterloo Region ACORN are rallying for stronger protections against “bad-faith evictions,” also known as renovictions. They are urging regional councils to vote on new bylaws requiring landlords to register their properties and pay a licensing fee.
2. Region-Wide Day of Action: On Tuesday, ACORN organized a region-wide day of action. The event featured virtual meetings and phone blitzes aimed at persuading the city councils of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge to adopt anti-renoviction bylaws similar to those recently passed in Hamilton.
3. Renoviction Crisis: Renovictions occur when landlords evict tenants under the pretense of making major renovations, only to re-list the units at significantly higher rents. This practice exacerbates the region’s affordable housing crisis, according to ACORN. Maribel Jagorin, co-chair of Waterloo Region ACORN, highlighted the disparity between living costs and income, stating, “There is a housing crisis out there… I am fighting for my affordable housing and my rights because everywhere I look I can only see greed and lack of balance.”
4. Hamilton’s Successful Model: Inspired by Hamilton’s success, where the “Renovations License and Relocation Bylaw” was unanimously passed on January 17, 2023, Waterloo Region ACORN is pushing for similar measures. Hamilton’s bylaw mandates landlords to:

• Apply for a license within seven days of issuing a Notice to End Tenancy (N13)
• Provide a Tenant’s Rights and Entitlements Package
• Offer temporary accommodation or rental top-ups for tenants wishing to return to their units post-renovation

1. Impact of Existing Legislation: Since implementing its bylaw in 2019, Hamilton has seen renovictions drop, thanks to its legislation modeled after successful initiatives in New Westminster, B.C.
2. Local Impact: Local ACORN members have identified several locations where tenants received renoviction notices, including 267 Traynor Ave., 250 Frederick St., and 94 Beck St. This highlights the urgent need for legislative action to protect renters.
3. Council Meetings and Advocacy: At a recent Kitchener council meeting, councilors supported the City of Toronto’s appeal to the provincial government to enforce regulations under Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023. This includes rent control, landlord responsibilities for finding accommodation or relocation assistance, and the creation of a provincial registry for tracking rental rates and building ownership.

Stay informed and involved as the fight for tenant protections and affordable housing continues.