Learn Everything About the Rental Renovations License By-Law Toronto 2025

Have you been a victim of “renoviction” before? If so, you might already know what we are talking about! Renovictions is a strategy landlords use to evict tenants without notice under the pretense of major renovations in the rental unit. Many landlord and tenant Toronto disputes have occurred due to renovictions. However, tenants will get relief from renovictions with the new Rental Renovation License By-Law (Toronto) coming into effect from July 31, 2025. 

Let’s learn what this by-law is and why it is crucial to improve the tenancy.

What is Rental Renovation License By-Law (Toronto)?

As mentioned above, this by-law reduces the instances of renovictions in Toronto and prevents tenants’ rights. This by-law states that if a landlord wants to get a Rental Renovation License, they can’t evict the tenant without fulfilling the following requirements:

1. Issues an N13 notice to the tenants to terminate the tenancy. Keep and provide a copy of the same notice when applying for a renovation license. 

2. Give pre-approved building permits along with any other approved permits required. 

3. Fill out a $700 application form and submit it to the city council.

4. Provide a Tenant Information Notice informing the tenants of the license application and potential renovations. You can get legal advice Toronto from a legal firm if you don’t get such a notice before renovations. 

5. Give a detailed report created by a qualified professional stating that the renovations will require vacant units. 

6. Ensure the Tenant Accommodation or Compensation Plan is completed for tenants who want to return to the rental units after renovations. The landlord must arrange comparable, temporary housing units for such tenants. If the tenant wants to find their rental unit but still wants to return after renovations, the landlord must provide a moving allowance of $1,500 for a studio/one-bedroom unit and $2,500 for a two-or-more-bedroom unit. 

7. The landlord must provide a prescribed severance compensation if the tenant chooses not to return to the rental unit after renovation. 

How Does This By-Law Help Tenants?

This by-law protects the rights of the tenants in the following way:

1. Protect the tenants from forceful evictions under the guise of false renovations. 

2. Especially, it protects the tenant rights of low-income or marginalized communities. 

3. Tenants can return to their rental units after renovations, ensuring a steady place to stay. 

4. Tenants get a temporary housing unit or compensation during renovations. 

5. The landlord can’t issue a renovation notice without a proper license. So, as a tenant, you must ask for this license if your landlord has issued a renovation and eviction notice.

To get more information on this by-law in Toronto and legal help, call us at SW Legal Service PC. We can help you understand this latest by-law and assist you in navigating other legal issues, such as a small claims Toronto case. Call us now to find out more.