Ottawa Tenant Speak Out against Hazelview’s 6-20% rent increases

ACORN members living in the Vista Local buildings in Herongate received huge rent increases from Hazelview (formerly known as Timbercreek). Tenants of Vista Local have formed an ACORN Tenant Union to fight these increases and because of tenants’ organizing, tenants were able to convince Hazelview to lower the increases from the original 6-20% to an average of 7%- but that is still too high!!

Because Doug Ford removed rent control on buildings rented out for the first time after Nov 15th 2018, tenants of the 3 Vista Local buildings have no legal protections against this astronomical rent increase. That’s why ACORN members organized a Tenant Speak Out on April 15, 2023 outside of the Vista Local buildings demanding that Hazelview lower the increases to 2.5% to align with the Provincial Guideline of 2.5% for rent controlled units.

32 ACORN members and tenants gathered outside the Vista Local buildings to listen to 5 ACORN members living in Vista Local speak about how these massive increases impact them personally. Many shared that they have had to decrease their groceries just to afford rent. Daniel Tucker-Simmons from Avant Law was a guest speaker who shared how corporate landlords are destroying affordable housing because of Doug Ford’s rent control loopholes. Tenants and ACORN have reached out collectively to request a meeting with Hazelview multiple times, including extending an invitation to the Tenant Speak Out. All attempts to resolve this issue have been rejected by Hazelview. The Vista Local ACORN Tenant Union delivered a letter of demands to Hazelview’s rental office demanding that Hazelview:

• Meet with tenants of Vista Local as a group with ACORN
• Lower the rent increase to 2.5%

Special thank you to Sandra Mutilva and Denis Lanouette – two new ACORN members who ran the Tenant Speak out!! Incredible Job!!

Send a message to Hazelview in solidarity with tenants here.