Making sense of Toronto’s property records

July 30, 2026·3 min read

Rooming houses are now legal — and licensed — across all of Toronto, with updated bylaw rules in effect since February. If you're hunting for a September room, here's what to check before you sign.

July 28, 2026·2 min read

Canada just finished collecting the 2026 Census, but those numbers won't land until 2027. Here's how to read the neighbourhood profile that exists right now — and what it can tell you that a listing never will.

July 23, 2026·2 min read

The province set the 2027 rent-increase guideline at 1.9%. Here's who it covers, the big exemption most renters miss, and how to think about staying versus buying at today's numbers.

July 23, 2026·2 min read

As of May 1, 2026, the City pays up to $6,650 per home for backwater valves, sump pumps, and flood-proofing — and it's retroactive to November 2025. Here's how it works, and why the permit matters.

July 22, 2026·2 min read

Toronto's 2026 residential property tax rate is 0.767311% of your MPAC assessed value. Here's the math, worked examples for condos and houses, and why 'average' numbers mislead.

July 22, 2026·2 min read

An Order to Comply is the City of Toronto telling a property owner: fix these specific problems by this date. Here's what triggers one, what happens if it's ignored, and how to check any address.

July 22, 2026·2 min read

Toronto landlords must keep rental units at 21°C or warmer from October 1 to May 15 — the dates changed in 2025. Here's what the rules cover, what changes in 2026, and what to do if your unit is cold.

July 20, 2026·1 min read

From the empty Hudson's Bay stores to the boarded-up 'Giraffe' building, the city's most-talked-about vacant buildings leave a public paper trail. Here's how to find out what's really going on.

July 16, 2026·2 min read

Every 311 complaint about a property can become a bylaw investigation — and the record is public. Here's how investigations work, how they escalate into orders, and what a long complaint history tells you.

July 16, 2026·2 min read

Same street, same floor plan, very different sale prices. A lot of the gap isn't in the listing photos — it's in the permit, order, and development records. Here's how to see it.

July 14, 2026·2 min read

Toronto's multiplexes are as-of-right, so they skip rezoning applications, community meetings, and mailed notices entirely. The building permit is the only public trail — here's how to watch it.

July 13, 2026·1 min read

A Toronto landlord was recently fined nearly a million dollars for letting a building decay. You don't have to guess whether yours is a problem — the City's enforcement record is public. Here's how to pull it.

July 9, 2026·2 min read

With nearly half of Ontario condos reportedly worth under $500K, buying looks closer than it has in years. Here's how to figure out the income and down payment a Toronto condo really takes — and how to vet the specific building.

July 9, 2026·3 min read

It's peak lease-signing season for September move-ins. Toronto publishes crime rates by neighbourhood — here's how to read them properly before you let one number decide where you live.

July 7, 2026·3 min read

The Rental Renovation Licence Bylaw has been in effect for almost a year. Here's what it requires before a landlord can issue an N13 — and how to tell a genuine renovation from a pretext using public records.

July 6, 2026·2 min read

Headlines about condo bailouts and falling prices are everywhere. Here's how to cut through the noise and check what's actually being built — or stalled — around a specific address.

July 2, 2026·2 min read

Wildfire smoke gets the headlines, but the steady source is closer to home: factories, plants, and yards that report what they release. Here's how to read the NPRI record for any Toronto address.

July 2, 2026·2 min read

New rules require landlords to keep rental units from getting dangerously hot. Here's what they cover — and how to check whether your building has a track record of heat and maintenance complaints.

June 30, 2026·2 min read

Every legal Airbnb in Toronto needs a City registration number tied to the operator's principal residence. Here's what the rules are — and what a registration on a unit signals if you're buying, renting, or living in the building.

June 18, 2026·2 min read

Toronto scores every large apartment building out of 100, and the scores are public. Look up any building free, and see what counts as a red flag.

June 15, 2026·1 min read

An open order or violation is the City telling an owner to fix something. Unlike a permit, it's a flag — here's what the common ones mean and who inherits them.

June 10, 2026·2 min read

A permit record tells you what work was approved, when, and whether it's finished. Here's how to make sense of the fields — and what an open permit means if you're buying or renting.