As Brampton, Ont., aims to curb illegal rentals, records show local councillor co-owns non-compliant property

As the City of Brampton works to address unsafe and illegal housing, CBC Toronto has learned that a local councillor co-owns a property with an unregistered basement apartment, contravening municipal bylaws. 

Coun. Gurpartap Singh Toor, who sits on both Brampton city council and Peel regional council, denies owning the house on Gardenbrooke Trail, in the northeast of the city. But property records show he has been on the title since 2021, and information obtained through a freedom-of-information request reveals the basement has been rented out illegally that entire time.

Toor's sister has owned the property since 2012, according to the records, and transferred him a one per cent share in 2021, making him a co-owner. It's one of at least four properties that Toor owns — property records show he also owns three houses in Caledon, Ont. 

The city first inspected the Brampton property and issued a compliance notice in September, along with a $750 fine, noting that unregistered apartments could pose safety risks to occupants.

The inspection followed a complaint filed by Azad Goyat. Goyat is the founder of the Brampton Housing Providers Association, a non-profit representing landlords, founded in response to a pilot project aimed at curbing illegal housing. He also ran for regional council in the same wards as Toor in the last municipal election.

He says neighbours noticed two families were living in the house, but there was no secondary unit registered with the city. 

"Coun. Toor is representing the people. He's the lawmaker at the City Hall. How [can he] dare to … have the illegal dwellings?" said Goyat.

Illegal renting has been top of mind for Brampton council, with the mayor previously calling unregistered rentals "fire traps." Last year, Brampton had nearly 100 house fires and five deaths, the city told CBC Toronto earlier this month. 

Toor has served as regional councillor for wards 9 and 10 since 2022.

When CBC Toronto spoke to Toor outside council chambers last week, he denied ownership and threatened a legal letter. 

"I don't own this property. Anyone coming after my family, I'm coming after them," he said. 

Responding to follow-up questions via email, Toor said his sister was the owner of the property, and that he had previously been a one per cent owner of it "for a short period of time for personal reasons." He said he has not received income from the house.

In the email, he accused "City Hall insiders [of] grasping at straws and leaking personal and private information," in a "malicious" attempt to damage his reputation. 

Having a small ownership share does not reduce liability in any way, even if the owner has not been receiving any income from a property, Toronto real estate lawyer Bob Aaron says.