The City of Brampton continues to take proactive and collaborative actions to strengthen tenant protections, improve rental housing quality and expand access to safe, affordable housing.  

Enhancing the Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) Pilot Program

Throughout the RRL Pilot Program, staff have evaluated lessons learned and gathered feedback from stakeholders across the city, including community partners, residents, landlords and tenants on the current framework. As a result, City Council approved several enhancements to grow and improve the effectiveness of the program. Key enhancements being introduced in 2026 will include:

• Extension of the RRL Pilot Program: The RRL Pilot Program will be extended beyond December 31, 2025, to operate for another three years, subject to annual reviews and approval.
• Expansion to more City Wards: Based on resident feedback from a recent public consultation and direction from City Council, Wards 2 and 8 will now be included in the RRL Pilot Program.
• Training to certify operators: The RRL Pilot Program will introduce training as a requirement for a licence. This training will equip operators with the City of Brampton's rules and regulations for operating a rental unit.

• New classifications of licences: Brampton's rental landscape includes a wide  variety of rental housing types. To better reflect this diversity and support housing and enforcement objectives, the City is implementing differentiated licence classifications. A formal classification system will enable the City to track trends and tailor enforcement, inspections and education efforts. It will also support data-informed policy development, funding decisions and partnerships that advance housing affordability, suitability and safety.
• Integration with ARU registration: To improve operational efficiency and customer experience, the City will integrate the licensing and certification process into the existing ARU registration workflow starting in 2026. This will streamline application and approval timelines, support earlier occupancy and promote compliance with both programs through a coordinated process.

Additionally, the City is improving the minimum insurance requirement framework of the RRL Pilot Program. More information will be shared as the framework is finalized.

Responsible landlords play a vital role in the community. The enhanced RRL Pilot Program supports them by providing clear guidelines, targeted education and streamlined processes to help meet regulatory requirements and maintain safe, high-quality rental housing. The program will continue to be evaluated annually.

New! Renting in Brampton Web Hub

The City of Brampton has introduced several improvements to support residents, landlords, tenants and community partners with more accessible information related to rental housing by launching a new Renting in Brampton web hub, a one-stop online resource designed to help users navigate rental housing topics in Brampton. The hub provides information on regulations, safety standards, landlord and tenant guides, codes of conduct and support services. In addition, there is a new dedicated student housing resource hub, developed with local post-secondary institutions, community partners and Brampton's Community Safety and Well-being Office. Visit the web hub at brampton.ca/renting. 

Enhanced Service Brampton support

Service Brampton has introduced enhancements to improve the resident experience and transparency. Several new features have been added:

• Enhanced customer status updates
  • Residents can now receive more detailed updates when City staff make changes to their service request files, improving communication and clarity.
  • Residents will automatically receive notifications by text message or email with status updates. They can also track the status through their Profile under 'My Service Requests'. 
• New online form for rental housing concerns
  •  A user-friendly submission form is now available through 311Brampton.ca and the mobile app, making it easier for residents to submit service requests related to:
    • Additional Residential Units
    • Residential Rental Licences Short-Term Rental Units
    • Lodging Houses and Occupancy Concerns 

Brampton's commitment to affordable housing

As part of implementing the Housing Brampton: Housing Strategy and Action Plan, the City is advancing a comprehensive approach through policy changes, grant programs and strong community partnerships to increase the supply of affordable housing. Recent efforts include:

• Investments in affordable housing projects through the Housing Catalyst Capital Program and the Community Improvement Plan for Affordable Housing.
• Reviewing and modernizing local by-laws to reduce barriers that disproportionately impact disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. 

Supporting students living in the community

As a signatory to the Brampton Charter for Improving the International Student Experience, the City continues to lead efforts prioritizing student safety, housing quality and community well-being. Through partnerships with Sheridan College, Algoma University, triOS College and the International Student Collaborative, Brampton has advocated for a range of initiatives aimed at improving off-campus housing standards, empowering students with tenant education and supporting purpose-built student housing developments. Key initiatives include:

• Support for new student housing developments, including Algoma University's residence and Sheridan College's housing needs assessment.
• An information session series through the International Students Collaborative covering key topics such as legal rights around employment and housing, immigration and more.
• A survey of community partners and stakeholders involved in affordable housing, including those supporting international post-secondary students living off campus in Brampton, to better understand the challenges and opportunities related to student housing and to co-create resources that raise awareness and support informed decision-making. 

Exploring the future of Lodging Houses in Brampton

The City is reviewing its lodging house framework to explore how this type of shared housing can respond to Brampton's need for affordable housing options. In Brampton, a lodging house is a detached home where more than four individuals rent private rooms and share facilities, such as kitchens and bathrooms. This differs from a traditional residential rental, where a tenant(s) or household(s) rents the entire unit (a home or apartment) and has exclusive use of all living spaces. 

Properly licensed and maintained lodging houses offer safe, affordable housing options for students, newcomers and low-income residents. As part of this review, the City will seek community input to help shape a framework that balances tenant safety and quality of life with neighbourhood character and infrastructure capacity. Learn more about lodging housing at brampton.ca/renting. 

The City is committed to steadfast advocacy and will continue to work with all orders of government to address system-wide gaps. Brampton will also strengthen its leadership in student housing by exploring new opportunities to expand reach and impact through local innovation, intergovernmental collaboration and community-driven solutions.

Quotes 

"Everyone deserves access to safe, healthy and adequate housing. With a new landlord education and certification, an integrated rental registry, new rental classifications and enhanced tools for reporting concerns, we are putting meaningful safeguards in place while empowering landlords to be responsible partners in the housing system. But cities cannot solve this crisis alone. We are calling on all orders of government to step up with targeted funding, stronger accountability for post-secondary institutions and policy reforms that reflect the reality on the ground. Brampton is doing its part - now we need our federal and provincial partners to do theirs."

Patrick Brown, Mayor, City of Brampton 

"We know that many residents, especially international students, newcomers and low-income residents, are at risk of unsafe, overcrowded or exploitative housing. That's why the City is taking a proactive approach to protect the safety of residents and the quality of our neighbourhoods through stronger oversight, education and enforcement. We encourage all residents - whether tenants or landlords - to take advantage of the programs and resources available, including the Renting in Brampton web hub, to better understand their choices, rights and responsibilities in Brampton's rental market."

Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 and 5; Chair, Legislative and Community Services Sections; Member, Residential Rental Licensing Task Force, City of Brampton  

"Through the RRL Pilot Program and other housing initiatives, Brampton is leading the way in creating safer homes and expanding access to affordable housing options. Strong property standards help ensure homes are safe and healthy, and that our neighbourhoods remain clean and beautiful. These initiatives and resources help residents understand their roles and responsibilities under City by-laws, supporting stronger compliance and safer places to call home. By holding landlords accountable and giving residents the tools and information they need, we are making a real, lasting difference. We remain committed to ensuring rental housing is safe, accessible and responsive to the needs of our community."

Dennis Keenan, Regional Councillor, Wards 3 and 4; Member, Residential Rental Licensing Task Force, City of Brampton