TORONTO - Mayor Chow says her 2026 budget will deliver more affordability for the 50% of Torontonians who rent their homes:
“Renters are feeling squeezed from the high cost of living. My budget delivers real support for families who rent their homes so they can rely on a safe and affordable place to live for years to come,” said Mayor Chow. “By helping renters have safe and well-maintained apartments, stopping illegal evictions and building more affordable homes, we make sure people who work in our city can continue to live here.”
“We’re adding more inspectors to make sure problems are fixed when there’s an issue in your apartment. We’re stopping illegal evictions and supporting tenants with legal help. Our Rent Bank helps people make rent in a tough month. And of course, we’re building thousands more affordable homes to continue driving the cost of rent down. The 2026 budget continues our work to deliver a more affordable, safe and caring city,” said Mayor Chow.
Mayor Chow was joined by Yaroslava Montenegro, Executive Director of the Federation Of Metro Tenants' Associations, to discuss the importance of Toronto’s programs for renters:
"Tenants have been pushed to the brink because of the ongoing affordability crisis, and inaction from all levels of government. We are so happy to see the City of Toronto, through Mayor Chow, step up to the plate during her tenure, and begin to address the many issues tenants face throughout our City," said Montenegro.
Mayor Chow’s 2026 budget includes a range of initiatives to support renters:
- More RentSafeTO inspectors to make sure apartments are safe and in good repair for tenants. The 2026 budget includes 60 officers and 73 total staff, up from 36 officers when Mayor Chow came into office.
- Stopping illegal evictions and illegal rent increases by administering the new Renovictions Bylaw and funding the Toronto Tenant Support Program, which helps renters with legal support. The budget includes $4 million for these initiatives, which support renters against illegal evictions, illegal rent increases and other landlord-tenant issues.
- Keeping renters housed through Rent Bank grants to help people make rent in a tough month. The budget includes $10.8 Million - nearly double the amount from when Mayor Chow took office. Across the Rent Bank, Eviction Prevention in Community program and the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit we’re helping 4,500 renters stay in their homes.
- Building more affordable homes to continue to drive down the average cost of rent in Toronto. In 2026, the City will break ground on over 9,800 new rent controlled and affordable homes. Further, in 2026, existing construction will continue on over 5,600 rent controlled and affordable homes, and an additional 1,400 homes will reach completion.
- More than doubling free air conditioners for seniors and low income renters as part of the Air Conditioner Assistance Program, along with bringing forward a Maximum Heat By-Law to council this year.
Mayor Chow’s 2026 budget focuses on affordability and continuing progress on making Toronto safer. It includes free healthy meals in schools, TTC fares frozen for the third straight year - as well as investment to continue reducing 911 wait times and lowering crime by hiring police, paramedics, firefighters and mental health workers. See more here.