Tenants at 2255 Weston Road denounce rent-gouging; call on Firm Capital to drop the AGI

Weston ACORN members came out to protest the recent Above-Guideline Rent Increase (AGI) application put forward by Firm Capital. This is the third AGI application in a row now at 2255 Weston Road. After tenants received different AGIs in this building, with some going as high as 7.5%, a member of Weston ACORN brought it up at our chapter meeting on August 13th. This third AGI comes right after tenants met with city councillor Frances Nunziata in April, which she organized with tenants to support them, but little changed. Members decided to support tenants at 2255 through hosting a tenant speakout outside their building.

Together, Weston Acorn says NO to the recent Above-Guideline Rent Increase (AGI) application put forward by Firm Capital. While Firm Capital wants to hike the rent yet again, tenants are dealing with pests, broken elevators, and disrepair in both apartments and common areas. On Tuesday, members made their voices heard! 20+ tenants showed up to demonstrate, from all over Weston! Neighbours from other buildings came to show solidarity with the tenants at 2255 Weston, because they know that there is nothing stronger than organized and unified tenants!

First, Secretary of the Weston chapter Michelle Jones-Cunningham, and Weston ACORN members Susan Cox, Margaret Manning and Fabio Leone spoke out about the unfairness of the AGI, and how rent hikes affect their lives. They asked “what the hell are we paying for?”; corporate landlords constantly hike up rents in Weston, regardless of failed renovations, broken elevators, pest infestations and other maintenance issues. Feeling the power of collective action, members cheered “the people united will never be defeated” while waving signs and ACORN flags.

Next, all members participated in a mass phone blitz, flooding the phone lines of Firm Capital, MPP Mohamed Firin and Councillor Frances Nunziata.They demanded that (1) Firm Capital drop their AGI application, (2) MPP Mohamed Firin advocate for full rent control and a ban on AGIs, and (3) Councillor Nunziata advocate for strong tenant protections and help connect tenants with legal support. Finally, tenants delivered a a demand letter to management’s office, and an award for Weston Rent-Gouger of the Year! And their fight is already paying off! Today, we received a response from MPP Firin’s office indicating that they’ll be reaching out to the Ontario Landlord-Tenant Board to inquire on behalf of Weston tenants.

Tenants at 2255 Weston Road are making clear that all residents deserve safe, well-maintained, and affordable homes. When landlords and governments try to make tenants feel powerless or pit neighbours against each other, they fail! Because residents know that poor building conditions and rising costs are not individual problems, but the result of landlords and governments failing to meet their responsibilities. This is what tenant organizing looks like: neighbours coming together, identifying the issues in their building, building leadership, and taking action together to demand the homes and communities they deserve.  

We look forward to hearing from MPP Firin’s office.

ACORN strong, all day long!