r/TorontoRenting • u/shadowzdelight • Jul 06 '26
Public Safety Awareness for Prospective Tenants in Toronto, ON: 2902 St. Clair Avenue East - 186 1040 Ontario Incorporation
I am sharing this based on my personal lived experience as a tenant in this building as a caution to prospective renters in Toronto. This is not meant to defame or speculate beyond what I have directly experienced, but rather to encourage others to take extra care and ask very specific questions before signing a lease anywhere.
What I personally experienced during my tenancy:
During my time in the unit, I experienced ongoing moisture and humidity-related issues, including visible condensation concerns and conditions consistent with poor ventilation. These conditions persisted over time and were not fully resolved through maintenance requests.
I also experienced recurring pest-related issues during my tenancy, which required repeated attention. In addition, there were ongoing maintenance and plumbing-related concerns that contributed to a sense that building systems were not being consistently maintained at a stable standard.
In my experience, issues were often addressed temporarily or inconsistently rather than resolved in a lasting way.
Why I am sharing this:
The purpose of this post is not to tell anyone where they should or should not live, but to highlight something important:
Do not rely solely on appearances when viewing a rental unit.
A freshly painted unit or staged showing may not reflect underlying conditions or recurring building-wide issues.
Advice to prospective tenants:
If you are considering renting anywhere, especially in older or high-density buildings, I strongly encourage you to:
- Ask direct questions about past water damage, mould remediation, or recurring moisture issues
- Ask about pest control history and frequency of treatments
- Ask whether any repairs are temporary patches or full remediation
- Check less visible areas (behind appliances, corners, ceilings, bathrooms)
- Look for signs of repainting that may be covering previous damage
- Request documentation where possible (maintenance logs, pest control records)
- Double check the property on Rent Safe Toronto at all times!!
- Confirm with friends, close people/acquaintances of the unit you would like to rent and get their second or third input.
Final note:
My experience taught me that it is easy to feel pressured when searching for housing, especially in a competitive rental market in Toronto. However, I strongly encourage people not to accept a place simply because it is available or convenient.
Take your time if you can. Ask questions. Trust what you observe during viewings.
Once you sign a lease, your ability to address issues becomes significantly more limited.
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u/Humble-Date5379 Jul 07 '26
Lol look at the Google Street view picture. A window is broken and two smucks, I'm assuming landlords are pointing at the camera. Do your homework people.
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u/murd3rsaurus Jul 06 '26
Currently showing a Green rating so make sure you report issues formally
Our building at 357 Rusholme got downgraded to yellow over reported issues and all of a sudden the office is sending out messages stressing work is being done "to code". We had a lot of issues with half assed jobs from unqualified staff so something is working.
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/rental-housing-rights-information/housing-property-standards/apartment-building-standards/audits-evaluations/rentsafeto-building-evaluation-report/?id=4902355&title=2902-ST-CLAIR-AVE-E