Tenants, housing advocates demand support for renters amid latest COVID-19 restrictions

When Ruba Ullahgot the notice from the University of Toronto that school would resume in person in September last year, she went apartment hunting.

"It wasn't an easy process to find something I could afford," Ullah said. The first-year student inthe doctor of pharmacy program ended up landing an apartment within her budget and signed a one-year lease but then school went online as COVID-19 cases rose.

"I moved back with my parents in Montreal because I didn't need to be in Toronto, but I still had to keep paying rent," she said.

Since she signed the lease she's only spent about twomonths in the apartment, as COVID-19 protocols at universities have continuouslyshiftedfrom in-person to remote learning. She said for the month of January, she'll remain in Montreal with her parents.

But she doesn't wantto risk breaking her lease and vacatingin case in-person classes resume in a matter of weeks.

"I don't know if we'll be back in person in February, so I can't give the 60 days notice because I might have to be in class in February," she said.Ullah addedit was so challenging to find the apartment in the first place, she doesn't want to take a risk and give it up, and not be able to find something she can afford again.

She also said she hasn't been able to find a part-time job during the pandemic.

"I'm using my savings, a line of credit and some support from my parents too, so I'm very grateful for that."

Ontario announced Monday itis moving schools online for at least two weeks, temporarily closing indoor dining and gyms and pausing non-urgent medical proceduresas it faces record-high case counts that, according to public health officials,threaten to overwhelm the province's health-care system.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing says it willcontinue to explore potential further measures to support renters. But tenants like Ullah and housing advocates say more needs to be done, as the province'srent increase guideline for 2022 at 1.2 per cent came into effect Jan. 1.

The new restrictions are part of a modified version of Step Two of the province's Roadmap to Reopen, which was first implemented earlier last year. However, the province also implemented pauses on eviction enforcement and a rent freeze at that time, andadvocates say those measures need to be in place again.

Renters need more support, advocates say

Cole Webber, a community legal worker with ParkdaleCommunity Legal Services, says evictions have been happening throughout the pandemic.

"Today, sheriffs are out removing tenants from their homes in the dead of winter," he said.

• A new COVID benefit is now in effect, but no one can access it

"What relief has been made available for those who qualify for it, has been desperately inadequate considering the high rents people pay and withemergency benefits beingcut or greatly reduced."

Webber saidin addition to the Jan. 1 rent guideline increase, his office has also seen many clients facing above-guideline rent increases.

"With new restrictions, we're going to see another wave of layoffs,workers income being disrupted and people put into situations where they're unable to make their rent payments on time."

Douglas Kwan, director of advocacy and legal services at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, echoed those concerns. He would like to see financial supports for tenants and small landlords, paired with eviction moratoriums for the length of the pandemic similar to measures he says were happening in the United States.

"Monthly rent has increased, inflation has increased and now we're seeing a situation where many people can't work. People are experiencing incredible hardship."

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing responds

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing toldCBC Newsthe province has taken decisive action to support renters.

"For example, we have increased tenant compensation for bad faith evictions and increased the maximum fines to $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a corporation for offences under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), such as illegal rent increases," the ministry said in awritten statement, adding it hasprovided municipalities with over $1 billion to invest in housing and homelessness programs.

The ministry also saidrent increases are not automatic or mandatory.

"Landlords may only raise rent if they have provided proper written notice at least 90 days in advance, and if 12 months have passed since the first day of the tenancy or the last rent increase."

Ullahsaidshe will try to hold onto her unit as long as she can, hopeful that she will land a part-time job and in-person classes will resume.

"It's worse for other people. I'm lucky I have a family to support me," she told CBC News.

"If I didn't have that, I don't know what I would do."