About Us

The Parkdale Tenants Association has been working to improve tenants' lives since 1971. A grassroots group with strong roots in the community, its members have joined together to force landlords to be more accountable, and to ensure that governments play their role. High rent increases, buildings in appalling condition, and harassment by landlords continue to be issues faced by low-income tenants in Parkdale. In recent years, the PTA has focused on individual buildings and landlords responsible for some of the worst maintained high-rises in the area. In some cases, this work has resulted in substantial improvements in building maintenance, refunds for tenants charged illegal key deposits, and improvements in heat and hot water access. Several new building-based or landlord-based tenant groups have started up, and the PTA has worked to support them.

In the Spring of 2002 the PTA launched an aggressive campaign to evaluate living conditions in Parkdale apartment buildings. At the PTA's General Meeting late in 2001, attended by more than 200 tenants, people complained that rents were going through the roof and that many tenants were living in slum conditions. In response, the PTA came up with the idea of rating apartment buildings just as the City of Toronto had started rating restaurants and eating establishments.

The PTA survives on a wing and a prayer. The PTA has no money, does not receive any grants, and membership in the organisation is free. The huge amount of work involved in the GOLDEN COCKROACH campaign is done by volunteer labour. There lies its strength, but also its weakness. Many more dedicated tenant volunteers are needed to make this campaign a success and to carry forward its momentum.