‘Enough is enough’: Thorncliffe Park tenants call for May 1 rent strike

On Sunday afternoon, tenants of 71, 75 and 79 Thorncliffe Park Drive held a rally, kicking off what they describe as a rent strike as they plan to withhold rent starting May 1.

The tenants contend that the building’s owners – Starlight Investments and PSP Investments – have been seeking rent increases of 4.2 per cent in 2022 and 5 per cent or more in 2023.

“We can’t afford the kind of rent increase they are asking for,” rally organizer Abdelaziz Dardake tells CityNews. “And we’re trying to send a message to the landlord that enough is enough.

“People they are barely surviving and the economy is very, very bad, very expensive.”

Tenant Khalil Aldroubi says the rising costs have forced many to do whatever they can just to make ends meet.

“We wait patiently for the flyers to come out from Food Basics and Costco to save some money for the end of the month. And all that saving, in the end, is not enough.”

Several tenants accuse the owners of starting renovations without informing residents of their intention to increase rents in the process.

“They did the cosmetics around the building and then said they have spent too much money so we need to increase the rents, but they didn’t do anything inside the apartments,” explained M Abdul Hafeez Kham.

A spokesperson for Starlight Investments tells CityNews they are disappointed to hear residents plan to withhold rent payments.

“Given our recent efforts to make improvements to the structure and life safety systems at the buildings, and our reasonable and considered approach to apply for a limited above guideline increase, we are disappointed in the calls by some to withhold full rent payments, particularly given that the application hasn’t been heard yet or approved,” Danny Roth said in a statement.

“No tenant is required to pay a single dollar more in rent at this time.”

Roth adds that they will continue to offer rent relief to any tenant struggling to meet their financial obligations at this time.