Rising rent arrears put pressure on tenants and small housing providers
Housing support organizations across the Greater Toronto Area report growing demand for assistance as housing costs outpace household incomes. Ontario-wide applications to evict tenants for non-payment increased from 37,690 in 2022–23 to 45,435 in 2024–25, a rise of approximately 20%.
The Toronto Rent Bank reports larger arrears among applicants, with some households owing more than $10,000. Small rental housing providers are also facing higher mortgage, property-tax, insurance and maintenance costs, making prolonged non-payment increasingly difficult to absorb.
Nova Scotia lens: The experience highlights the importance of early intervention when tenants fall behind. Targeted rental assistance, timely dispute resolution and support that preserves tenancies can help households remain housed while protecting the financial stability of smaller rental properties.
Read the CBC article