Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown has openly criticized a group of landlords protesting the city’s residential rental licensing program, referring to them as a “slum landlord association” during a news conference earlier this week.
The remarks came as members of the Brampton Home Providers Association (BHPA) gathered outside city hall on Monday, September 16, to voice their disapproval of the city’s pilot program. Mayor Brown, joined by city councillors Rowena Santos, Dennis Keenan, and Rod Power, provided an update on the program during the news conference.
“We are committed in the City of Brampton to addressing this critical issue. We have repeatedly heard concerns about slum landlords who are deteriorating neighborhoods and contributing to unacceptable living conditions for vulnerable individuals,” said Brown. “This is something we cannot ignore.”
Councillor Rowena Santos echoed Brown’s sentiments, emphasizing the importance of the program in safeguarding both the community and tenants. “The RRL program isn’t just about regulating landlords; it’s about ensuring that all rental units meet basic safety and health standards,” said Santos. “Too often, we’ve seen cases where vulnerable tenants are being taken advantage of in unsafe and unsanitary conditions. This program is designed to put an end to that.”
Santos further stressed the role of the city in protecting residents. “Brampton deserves to be a place where all tenants, no matter their situation, can live in clean, safe homes. We cannot let negligent landlords bring down the quality of life in our neighborhoods,” she added.
The RRL pilot program, which affects five of the city’s electoral wards, requires landlords who own rental properties with up to four units to register for a business license at an annual cost of $300 per unit. The program also mandates random health and safety inspections, as well as property standards checks, conducted by the city’s bylaw enforcement department.
Protests against the program, which began in May, have continued to escalate, with landlords arguing that the program imposes unnecessary financial and regulatory burdens. Meanwhile, city officials maintain that the licensing initiative is crucial for improving rental property conditions and ensuring tenant safety.
As the protest continues, the clash between the city and the landlord group has intensified, with Mayor Brown’s pointed comments and Councillor Santos’ defense of the initiative further fueling the debate.