'Mortal Kombat': Toronto renters describe the trials and tribulations of finding a place
CBC
If you ask young renter Shaun Brown what it's like trying to find an apartment in Toronto, she doesn't mince words.
"It's literally like challenging people [to] Mortal Kombat," said Brown, who works two jobs to afford her apartment on the city's west side.
"I'm not even being funny," she said. "It's become a scenario where it's like you have to outbid another person for a spot."
CBC Toronto has heard from hundreds of renters since its fresh look at the challenges of renting in the city began this week. Dozens wrote in saying they couldn't find a place — an experience likely felt by many more people in the city.
Add your story: find our callout form here.
High prices are a big limiting factor (the average cost of rent in Toronto hit $2,898 in August, while throughout the region prices have generally skyrocketed by over 30 per cent in the last two years alone). But renters like Brown have pointed out a number of other challenges when it comes to landing a place.
From bidding wars to the amount of information landlords need before providing a lease, renters in the city are tired of the chase.
Here's some of what we heard in response to our callout:
A competitive market is squeezing people out.
"There is a lot of demand and competition and it was therefore difficult to obtain appointments to view listed apartments, let alone being able to put in an application in time before a recently listed apartment became rented," one person told us.
Another, who moved to the city from Alberta, had a similar experience.
"I would show up to showings and there would be three other people interested. [The] landlord asked for so many documents," they said.
The amount of information landlords are asking tenants these days was a common concern.
"Landlords ask for credit score, job history and how much liquid savings you have in a savings account," one person said.
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