Adjudicator suing LTB for $860K

Take action 👉: Every single property manager have seen fraudulent documentation from applicants in the last year. If you haven’t, you’re probably not looking at the right details. In partnership with the Durham Landlords Association, you’re invited to join us online for “How to spot fake tenant documents” on Tues. Feb 13, 2025 at 7PM EST. Openroom Plus members get in for free.

This newsletter is brought to you by our partner at Rentals.ca

The average asking rents for all residential property types in Canada ended 2024 down 3.2% compared to the end of 2023, falling to a 17-month low of $2,109 in December. Read the entire report and see across Canada breakdown.

But wait! While rent prices have dropped since the pandemic, overall prices have increased by over 23% between December 2020 ($1,708) and December 2024 ($2,109).

👩🏻 Top update from me, Weiting (Co-Founder)

An Openroom Superfan, Greg, sent me an article about a former Adjudicator, Elan Shemtov, at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) of Ontario who is now suing the LTB for wrongful dismissal.

The Original Globe and Mail report is under a Paywall which means you’d have to pay to read it.

Too long didn’t read or couldn’t read behind the paywall? Summary:

Shemtov was appointed in 2023 to address the LTB’s backlog. Shemtov claims he faced retaliation after raising concerns about his supervisor’s behavior, including excessive oversight, threats to his reappointment, and public reprimands.

Shemtov alleges his work hours were drastically reduced, constituting constructive dismissal, and is seeking over $860,000 in damages.

The case underscores systemic issues in Ontario’s tribunal system, where adjudicators’ two-year terms and lack of formal HR structures create vulnerabilities to workplace mistreatment.

Tribunals Ontario declined to comment, and the allegations have not been proven in court.

My quick take:

There are always two sides, or multiple sides to a dispute.

I’ve had the chance to speak to a couple of adjudicators over the last year who gave me a tiny bit of behind-the-scenes at the LTB.

They mentioned the long hours, pressure to pump out orders, and quick turn over rates. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.

Anyhow, Openroom Superfan Greg pointed out that Shemtov’s 2 year term ends Feb 22, 2025 per the Tribunals Ontario website. This means that Shemtov’s term wasn’t even finished and he launched a lawsuit against the LTB.

This is extremely interesting as thousands of us are watching what the world is going on…

If you’re a reader in another Province, how’s the gossip in Ontario for you? Is this wild or just ‘ugh, who cares’? I’m so curious, what do you think? 🤔

🏘 Why is there a stigma to renting in Canada?

With the high cost of home ownership, many are choosing to rent.

According to the 2021 StatsCan report, 2/3 of Canadian households owned their homes while 1/3 were renters.

Contrast this to European cities where renting is seen as a standard and long-term housing solution rather than a transitional phase.

In many parts of the world such as Berlin (Germany), home ownership was just 17% per the study done by Statistisches Bundesamt in 2018. That means 83% of the Berlin residents were renters!

Or, take Switzerland as an entire country. 2025 Statistica reports that 58% of the population being renters.

I asked ChatGPT what the “Canadian Dream” is as it relates to housing.

It told me that owning a home is a mark of financial success and a path to long-term stability. One that you can pass generational wealth to future generations.

The desire is to have a detached single-family home with a yard to grow a family and enjoy a comfortable lifestyle - of course without being burdened by excessive debt.

But, the “renting lifestyle” is now on the rise as many younger Canadians are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve home ownership in expensive urban areas.

My former boss, Chief Technology Officer of Assurance IQ Nick Howard, called me the other day and said how he didn’t realize that suburban places were going for WELL OVER a million dollars even though it’s 45 minutes from the downtown core.

Yup. This is now the reality.

📊 Community Polling

Openroom conducts research in every newsletter. Results are anonymous.

In the last newsletter, I asked you “Have you or someone you know ever experienced a mental health condition?”

Results show 90% answered ‘yes’. As a community, we need to keep the conversation about mental health going to combat the stigma around it. I encourage you to check in on a loved one to see how they are doing today. You might just make their day.

That’s it for January. Thank you for staying involved and helping us help all of Canada!

I’d love to hear from you. Email back and try!

Weiting Bollu
Mom, Rental Housing Provider, Rental Housing Advocate, Educator, and Openroom Co-Founder & CEO who is building for a transparent and connected rental ecosystem.

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