On July 28, the York South Weston Tenants Union and a coalition of climate justice groups delivered a letter to landlord Dream Unlimited condemning their greenwashing actions and calling on the landlord to withdraw above guideline rent increases, compensate tenants for lost services, and abide by rent control.
Since June 1, tenants at 33 King Street have been on a rent strike. Their neighbours at 22 John Street joined the strike on July 1. Residents of 33 King have seen their rents increase by 22 percent in the last five years. Tenants at 22 John St. are not covered by rent control, despite their building being built on public land and the landlord receiving millions in public funding. For these tenants, their rent has increased as much as 20 percent in a single year.
Dream Unlimited is claiming that the rental increases are the result of energy efficiency retrofits. The company has also implied that these upgrades are directly connected to displacing the current residents in favour of higher income tenants.
Watch as tenants confront representatives of dream directly to demand that the landlord negotiate with tenants to withdraw the rent increases.
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