Ontario Housing Bill Overview for Tenants, Buyers and Landlords
April 2023
If you’ve been hearing about Ontario’s new housing bill and wondering how it actually affects you, you’re not alone. Between headlines, policy language, and political commentary, it can be difficult to understand what’s changing and what really matters.
As real estate professionals working daily with buyers, sellers, landlords, and investors, our job is to cut through the noise. So let’s break this down in plain terms.
In April 2023, the Province introduced Bill 97, the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act. The goal was simple on paper: increase housing supply, reduce system delays, and strengthen protections in Ontario’s housing market.
Why This Housing Bill Matters
At its core, this legislation touches three groups directly: tenants, landlords, and homebuyers. In addition, it impacts how quickly new housing can be approved and built, which affects everyone over time.
Rather than reviewing legal language line by line, here’s how these changes show up in real life.
What Tenants and Landlords Need to Know
One of the biggest pain points in Ontario housing has been delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board. As a result, disputes often take months to resolve, creating uncertainty for both tenants and landlords.
This bill proposed funding and process changes aimed at reducing those delays. In theory, that means faster hearings, clearer outcomes, and fewer cases stuck in limbo.
At the same time, the Province proposed stronger rules around evictions, especially when a tenant is asked to leave due to renovations or personal use. In practice, this puts more responsibility on landlords to prove intent and follow timelines.
Importantly, fines for bad-faith evictions were also proposed to increase significantly. The message here is clear: the rules are tightening, and compliance matters more than ever.
For tenants, this is meant to reduce uncertainty and abuse. For landlords, it reinforces the need for good documentation, professional advice, and proper planning.
Planning Changes and Housing Supply
Beyond rentals, the bill also focused on how housing gets approved and built. Ontario has long struggled with slow planning processes, even when demand is obvious.
As a result, the Province proposed simplifying land-use planning rules and encouraging more housing near transit, in built-up areas, and across a wider mix of housing types.
For buyers and investors, this matters because supply directly affects pricing, choice, and long-term market stability. More housing options over time generally mean less pressure on any single segment.
What Homebuyers Should Pay Attention To
If you’re planning to buy, especially new construction, a few proposed changes are worth noting.
First, the Province consulted on a potential cooling-off period for new freehold homes purchased directly from builders. This would give buyers time to review agreements and reconsider without immediate penalty.
Second, changes related to First Home Savings Accounts were proposed to strengthen deposit protection at Ontario credit unions. While technical, this speaks to broader efforts to support first-time buyers navigating affordability challenges.
It’s important to note that these discussions focused on new builds, not resale homes. Still, they signal a shift toward greater buyer protection and transparency.
So What Should You Do?
Housing policy changes don’t operate in isolation. How they affect you depends on whether you’re renting, investing, buying, or selling, and where you are in that journey.
The biggest takeaway is this: Ontario’s housing rules are evolving, and decisions made today should factor in both current regulations and what’s coming next.
With decades of experience working as investor-focused agents and advising clients through changing market conditions, we help people make strategic decisions rather than reactive ones.
If you want clarity on how Ontario’s housing changes connect to your plans, you can schedule a confidential consultation here. We’ll help you understand the implications and map out your next steps with confidence.
