The City of Brampton has launched a sweeping new program aimed at tackling its rental housing crisis, offering developers deep development charge reductions — up to 100 per cent for two-bedroom and larger units — to build purpose-built rentals.
Mayor Patrick Brown said the program comes at a critical time, with Brampton facing a vacancy rate of just 1 per cent and an alarming rise in unsafe, overcrowded basement apartments. “We’ve seen instances where 25 students are crammed into a basement unit. That needs to change,” Brown said, calling the plan a potential “game changer” that could attract hundreds of millions in investment.
The motion, introduced by Councillors Dennis Keenan and Rowena Santos, passed unanimously at council. Santos stressed the move directly targets unsafe living conditions: “This is bad news for slum landlords. Our overreliance on ARUs has put enormous strain on city services and undermined neighbourhood character.” She urged the province to roll back its aggressive legislation on additional residential units and grant municipalities authority to regulate their spread.
Keenan added that safeguards will ensure new projects remain rentals for at least 25 years, saying: “Today we are making it clear Brampton is ready to welcome new rental housing opportunities.”
The program’s rollout comes amid broader calls for provincial cooperation. Brampton is asking Queen’s Park to allow a pause on new ARUs in heavily concentrated areas so the city can address pressing safety and property standards issues.
Industry leaders praised the initiative. Tony Irwin, CEO of Rental Housing Canada, said high fees remain the biggest roadblock to rental construction, and Brampton’s program could make a “tremendous difference.” Developers Greg Jones of SkyDev and Remo Agostino of Daniels Corporation both said the incentives would unlock long-stalled projects, with Jones pledging to bring “cranes in the sky” and invest hundreds of millions into the city.
According to the city, the program is carefully tiered to encourage larger, family-friendly units and mixed-use communities. Officials say the plan is designed not only to expand rental supply but also to ensure it grows in a safe, sustainable, and community-supported way.