POLL: Biggest housing and rental news of 2024 in Brampton

Housing affordability, rental regulations, and eye-catching mansions were just some of the housing and rental market stories that grabbed readers in Brampton this year.

INsauga.com has compiled a list of our most-read housing and rental news stories from 2024, ranging from a dangerous basement apartment to an $8 million mansion for sale.

There’s a poll at the bottom where you can vote on which story was the most memorable.

Here are the five biggest housing and rental stories of the year in Brampton:

1. 25 students in one basement just some of 100,000 estimated residents in illegal suites in Brampton

Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said the city’s bylaw department found some 25 students living in a single basement apartment.

Brown has said there could be an estimated 100,000 residents living in illegal rental suites in Brampton and sounded the alarm about international students living in “third-world conditions.”

The incident led to calls for changes to Ontario and Canada’s international student regulations, like making appropriate and safe housing a requirement for post-secondary acceptance.

2. Brampton mansion makes list of most-viewed homes in Canada

A massive six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home in Brampton caught the attention of house hunters across Canada this year.

The custom-built home has around 9,200 square feet of living space and was listed at over $8 million. It features a massive kitchen, open-concept family space and a master bedroom with wraparound balcony access.

3. Average homeowner will pay $11,000 in property taxes in Brampton: report

A report showed property tax hikes of more than 6 per cent by the city and the Region of Peel led to the average Brampton homeowner paying over $11,000 in 2024.

The numbers show homes valued over $1 million can expect to pay around $11,069 in property taxes. Properties priced at over $750,000 will pay around $8,301, while homes over $500,000 will pay some $5,534.

With an average home value of $1,013,920 in Brampton, the typical homeowner will pay more than $11,000 in property taxes in 2024 according to Zoocasa.

4. Brampton will outpace Ottawa to become Ontario’s 2nd-largest city, premier says

Premier Doug Ford said Brampton is on track to become Ontario’s second-largest city and is making significant progress on meeting provincial housing targets.

The premier made the claim while in Brampton to present the city with $25.5 million in infrastructure funding as a reward for hitting more than 80 per cent of its provincially set housing targets last year, breaking ground on some 7,028 housing units in 2023.

Ontario’s More Homes Built Faster Act wants to see municipalities add 1.5 million homes across the province over the next 10 years, with Brampton’s target set at 113,000 new units.

5. Fines of $600 coming for some landlords under rental licensing program in Brampton

Brampton’s Residential Rental Licensing pilot program (RRL) was restarted in April after the project was put on hold just weeks after launch following complaints from local landlords.

Failing to sign up to the RRL program by the end of September would lead to a $600 fine, going up to $900 for the second offence and $1,200 for the third.

On top of registration fees, the new RRL program has Brampton Enforcement and By-law Services inspecting rental units “in response to residents’ concerns or where there have been previous concerns of compliance.”