Big explosion in rent dispute cases! Addressing Toronto's Housing Crisis: New Referee System for Landlords and Tenants! The rapid increase in rental prices has led to a surge in tenant-landlord disputes, with tensions rising between landlords who want to increase rents and tenants who oppose. Unfortunately, this trend shows no signs of slowing down, and rental dispute litigation is expected to continue increasing. I know personally, many Landlords don't want to rent their house because of endless tenant issues. At the same token, many tenants are guarding their self landlords eviction or orders, or landlords' games to kick them out. The inflationary economic environment and recent population growth have affected the rental market, resulting in a significant increase in the number of landlord-tenant disputes. The workload of the judiciary has also increased tremendously, and recent changes introduced by the Doug Ford government may not provide a comprehensive solution. Mandatory Mediation Prior to LTB! To address this issue, we need to introduce a new referee system for landlords and tenants, with mandatory participation in mediation proceedings prior to the Landlord Tenant Board Tribunal (LTB). The parties must go to mediation, and if they cannot agree on a mediator, they should be able go to court with the written report of the mediator. This will help reduce the load on the LTB and expedite decision-making by the judges. Mediation must be a process carried out with the participation of the parties themselves, and the parties or their proxies should attend the meeting day determined by the mediator. The cost of mediation and the selection of mediators should be carefully studied, and a newly created "mediation pool" can be used to register all tenancy agreements and collect funds for the mediation pool. Each lease agreement can contribute a few hundred dollars to this pool. What rights do tenants have against the landlord? As for the rights of tenants against landlords, it's important to note that the landlord must comply with the rate determined in the lease agreement and the legal limits that constitute the ceiling. If the landlord wants to increase the rent, they must provide the tenant with proper notice and follow the legal procedures. Tenants also have the right to a safe and habitable living space, and landlords are responsible for maintaining the property and addressing any health or safety concerns. In conclusion, rising rental prices have led to an increase in landlord-tenant disputes, and it's essential to introduce a new referee system that includes mandatory participation in mediation proceedings prior to the LTB. This will help reduce the load on the judiciary and expedite decision-making.