Brampton city council is taking steps to address landlords exploiting vulnerable international students, after a rental listing appearing to offer free housing in exchange for sexual favours circulated online, sparking backlash.
“It’s like they’re being prostituted to get discounts on rent,” Coun. Rowena Santos said during an interview following a Brampton city council meeting on Sept. 11.
Santos expressed serious concern over the exploitation of vulnerable female international students, noting that they are often financially strained and new to the city when targeted by landlords.
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This exploitation is akin to prostitution, Santos said, and highlights a severe issue in the housing market. The average rent in Brampton was $2,349 in September, according to Zumper — 18 per cent higher than the national average.
One ad, which appears to have been posted around July 2024 on Facebook Marketplace, provided three rental options — the third option being a “friends with benefits” arrangement, offering free rent and food. The ad has since been deleted.
A second rental ad posted on Facebook Marketplace suggests a boy is looking for a girl roommate who can cook for him and share a bed, while another ad spotted on Kijiji mentions seven “very friendly” males specifically seeking a “young female only.”
While On The Record has not been able to independently verify the ads, screenshots of the ads have sparked a broader conversation about rental safety and Brampton’s housing market.
Real estate agent Qais Hakeemi says Brampton’s housing crisis has driven up rental costs, making it easier for landlords to take advantage of desperate tenants.
“One key factor contributing to the ‘crisis’ is supply and demand,” he said in a written statement, noting the record-breaking number of people immigrating to Canada, combined with higher interest rates, low inventory levels, GDP growth and inflation, has forced many renters to seek alternative shelter solutions.
Hakeemi says he’s seen ads on Marketplace asking for a “mutual beneficial arrangement.” He says these ads violate the Landlord and Tenant Board.
“The real estate industry in Ontario is highly regulated,” Hakeemi said. “I recommend to anyone to seek professional advice and always know your rights.”
Naiomi Wright started renting in Brampton in 2018, and her experience has been far from easy.
She says she faced discrimination and bias based on her race and gender, making it difficult to secure a rental.
“It feels like I’m being taken advantage of and priced out of my own community,” Wright said.
One of her first landlords, who was living overseas, interviewed her over WhatsApp. She says he made a point of saying she was the second Black tenant he’d rented to, which left her feeling uncomfortable.
Because she was desperate for housing, she says she accepted the offer — only to find herself living with 11 other girls in what turned into a “total nightmare.”
For five months, Wright says her food and belongings were stolen and she received no support from her landlord, who she says dismissed her concerns.
“It’s disappointing that some landlords and property managers prioritize profits over people’s needs and well-being,” said Wright.
Wright says that the current housing market in Brampton has “turned finding a place to live into a daunting and demoralizing experience.”
She says she sees some concerning patterns in rental listings.
“Many ads have excessively high prices, which seem inflated compared to the unit’s condition and location,” Wright said.
“I’ve also seen odd requests, such as restrictions on cooking or using certain appliances, not having guests or visitors, unreasonable quiet hours or curfews, demands for access to personal social media profiles or unnecessary personal information, [as well as] strict or unrealistic requirements, like multiple months’ rent upfront,” she said.
Wright says renting in Brampton has made her feel anxious and insecure. “I wish I had more stability, security, and peace of mind in my rental experience,” she said.
Ontario’s real estate industry is well-regulated by RECO, but Hakeemi says municipalities and governments should better educate vulnerable immigrants through welcome packages, media campaigns and by connecting them with real estate professionals.
Santos said Brampton is working with Indus Community Services to help people facing difficulty with renting, and that the city has signed the International Student Charter — a plan brought forward by the City of Brampton and the president of Sheridan College, to make international student life better in Brampton through “shared principles, recommended actions and mechanisms for accountability.”
“Many of these girls, sometimes they end up getting pregnant or in a state of mental health crisis,” Santos said, adding that the city is receiving information about these types of scenarios directly from the social agencies that are there to help provide support.
Santos said Brampton is taking other steps, as well, to try to improve accountability among landlords. She highlighted the rental licensing program, and her own intention to introduce a motion to combat overcrowding and subletting.
“We are taking the right steps as a municipality,” said Santos.
Reporter, On The Record, Fall 2024
