Toronto Black renters face disproportionate eviction risks

Research from Toronto Metropolitan University indicates that Black renters in Toronto face a disproportionate risk of eviction and displacement. A study examining over 100,000 eviction filings in Toronto between 2016 and 2021 found that filings were highest in Black-majority neighbourhoods.

These areas often feature a high concentration of financialized landlords—corporate or institutional owners who treat housing as an investment asset. Researchers noted that Black renters are frequently concentrated in older, privately owned apartment buildings that become targets for investors seeking to increase rents and returns through acquisitions.

The study highlights how technical disputes, such as minor rent arrears, can threaten long-term housing security. In response to these findings, Toronto’s Confronting Anti-Black Racism Advisory Committee has recommended a temporary moratorium on certain arrears-related evictions.