Sometimes the law is not enough to address and protect tenants’ right to accessible, affordable, and adequate housing. There are areas where the law falls short of protecting tenants or actively works against their interests.

Landlords have power; they typically have money, they own the unit you live in, and they have organizations that advocate on their behalf to the government. Tenants usually don’t have any of this, but what they lack in financial and institutional power they make up for in people power. There are more tenants than there are landlords, and it’s important that tenants organize to use their collective power to fight for change. When government policies and the housing market favour landlord profits, it will result in more expensive housing, poor conditions of existing housing, and a power imbalance that favours landlords over tenants. If tenants organize and collectively fight for their rights, they can be protected from the inequities in our current laws and have better housing.

Read more about How to Organize as a Tenant.