Before you become a landlord: What our community needs to know

Editor’s Note: “We pulled this from the archives because the conversation is knocking at our door again. The issues, the lessons, the heartbeat — all of it is still alive. Read this as a call to awareness.”

I’ve said this many times in my practice, and I’ll keep saying it; owning a rental property in Ontario is not a side hustle. It is a business, and like any business, it comes with licensing, rules, risks, and responsibilities that too many people only learn after something goes wrong.

This column is not legal advice. It’s a reality check, especially for members of Ontario’s Black community who are buying property as a way to: build generational wealth, supplement income, or secure retirement. I see far too many well-intentioned landlords caught off guard by a system they didn’t fully understand before handing over the keys.

If you are going to rent property, you must understand your obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) before your first tenant moves in. Licensing, inspections, record-keeping, and compliance are no longer optional add-ons; they are becoming the standard.

A clear example is the City of Brampton. Under Mayor Patrick Brown, Brampton expanded its Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program city-wide as of January 1^st, 2026. What began as a pilot in 2024 (covering Wards 1, 3, 4, 5, and 7) now applies across all wards, including 2, 6, 8, 9, and 10, for rental properties with four, or fewer units.

Why does this matter? Municipalities are now openly treating rental housing as a regulated business activity. Licensing allows cities to inspect units, enforce fire and safety codes, address overcrowding, and shut down illegal, or unsafe rentals. In Brampton, the pilot showed measurable success in improving housing standards and increasing landlord accountability, so much so that the city expanded it instead of scaling it back.

I understand the pushback from landlords. Many feel the system favours tenants. What I’ve observed, sitting close to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), is something different. When properties are licensed, inspected, and compliant from day one, there are fewer disputes. Many tenant claims, about maintenance, safety, privacy, or neglect, never arise in the first place. That means fewer applications, fewer allegations of bad faith, and fewer months lost waiting for a hearing.

Delays are still very real. As of early 2025, the LTB backlog sat somewhere between 41,000 and 53,000 applications, only slightly down from late 2023. Even with additional adjudicators hired, most landlords and tenants are still waiting three to seven months for hearings. The pandemic eviction freeze created a wave the system is still trying to manage.

Tenants raise concerns through specific LTB forms (T1, T2, T5, and T6) and those issues often surface during landlord-filed rent arrears hearings (L1 or L9). Maintenance issues, illegal entry, harassment, and rent disputes are the most common flashpoints. What many landlords don’t know is that tenants must follow strict procedural rules to raise those issues. Evidence must usually be served at least seven days before a hearing, and under Bill 60, tenants may now be required to pay 50% of the alleged rent owed to raise certain claims at arrears hearings.

These changes are meant to speed up the system, but they don’t replace proper preparation on the landlord’s side.

For our community, this is the key takeaway: owning property is not the same as running a rental business. Licensing programs like Brampton’s are a signal of where Ontario is heading. If you’re thinking about becoming a landlord, do the learning before the conflict. Understand inspections, documentation, tenant rights, and your own obligations.

Generational wealth is built by protecting assets, not by being surprised by the rules after the fact.

As you consider the implications of increased licensing and regulation in Ontario’s rental market, I invite you to reflect on your own preparedness: Are you truly ready to navigate the complexities of being a landlord in today’s environment? Have you taken the time to learn about your responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and local municipal programs like Brampton’s expanded licensing initiative?

What steps are you taking to ensure your investment is compliant, your tenants are protected, and your assets are secure for the future? If you have insights, experiences, or concerns that might help others in our community build generational wealth responsibly, please write to the publisher of the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper; we would love to hear and share your story.