New rules and licences for more landlords under expanded rental registration program in Brampton

Changes to Brampton’s controversial landlord registration program include lower insurance requirements, new types of licences and an expansion into nearly every part of the city.

Brampton City Council approved changes to the city’s Residential Rental Licensing (RRL) program late last month, extending the time of the pilot project which requires landlords of properties with four or fewer rental units in certain areas of the city to obtain a licence to operate.

Starting in 2026, qualifying landlords in every ward except for 6, 9 and 10 will need to register, adding in wards 2 and 8.

“With a new landlord education and certification, an integrated rental registry, new rental classifications and enhanced tools for reporting concerns, we are putting meaningful safeguards in place while empowering landlords to be responsible partners in the housing system,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said in a release.

Brown has said there are an estimated 16,000 unregistered rental units in Brampton, and that the pilot project is “expanding because it’s an effective tool.”

But the expansion also comes with updated regulations around insurance, and introduces “new classifications of licences” for different property types and a “Renting in Brampton Web Hub,” among other tweaks.

Extension of the RRL Pilot Program

The RRL Pilot Program is being extended in both scope and length of time, and will now run until the end of 2028.

“Based on resident feedback from a recent public consultation and direction from City Council, Wards 2 and 8 will now be included in the RRL Pilot Program,” the city said in a release.

Expanding the program into wards 2 and 8 will also introduce improvements, like the creation of a new Rental Compliance Unit and a Certified Rental Registry to track legal units and guide enforcement.

Training to certify operators

The new RRL training “will equip operators with the City of Brampton’s rules and regulations for operating a rental unit,” the city says.

Enhanced enforcement operations will cost an additional $1.3 million for new bylaw enforcement staffers and equipment, according to a city report. Some $400,000 will be funded from revenues generated through enforcement, while the balance will be transferred from the city’s reserve funds.

New classifications of licences

The city is introducing “differentiated licence classifications” to include the “wide variety of rental housing types” available in Brampton.

“A formal classification system will enable the city to track trends and tailor enforcement, inspections and education efforts,” the city says.

The different types of licences will also allow for “data-informed policy development, funding decisions and partnerships that advance housing affordability, suitability and safety.”

Integration with Additional Rental Unit (ARU) registration

Brampton has also moved to merge the RRL licensing and certification process into the existing ARU registration, starting in 2026.

The streamlined applications with speed up approval timelines, support earlier occupancy and promote compliance with both programs through a coordinated process, the city says.

Changes to minimum insurance requirement

The city says it is also “improving” the minimum insurance requirement framework of the RRL Pilot Program, with more details coming “as the framework is finalized.”

The city says all the changes RRL Pilot Program supports landlords “by providing clear guidelines, targeted education and streamlined processes to help meet regulatory requirements and maintain safe, high-quality rental housing.”

“The program will continue to be evaluated annually,” the city says.

A total of 3,424 RRL licences were issued as of April, and over 1,900 investigations have led to over 400 penalty notices issued for licensing violations, with $301,800 in fines issued.

There were also more than 830 ongoing RRL investigations as of last month.

The program has seen multiple challenges from local landlords and changes since it was first introduced. Registration fees were initially set at $300 before being reduced to $150, and then scrapped altogether.

Some landlords opposed to the new rules held weekly protests in Brampton when the program was first announced.

For more information or to sign up for the city’s RRL program, visit www.Brampton.ca.