Toronto room rental warning

I want to share my experience in case it helps someone else avoid the same mistake.

When I was shown the room, I was promised one set of conditions. After I moved in, everything changed. That was my first lesson: get everything in writing, even the things that seem small or obvious at the time.

Sometimes it feels silly to ask for every little detail in writing. But when “obvious” things suddenly become unnegotiable, or people pretend they never said what they promised, that’s when the bullying starts.

Looking back, I ignored a lot of red flags. For example, every tenant had their own separate trash can, their own kitchen items, their own plates, forks, toilet paper, and basically everything else. Nothing was treated like a normal shared living space. At the time, I told myself it was just “house rules,” but now I see it was a sign of a very unhealthy environment.

People can seem kind and reasonable when they are trying to rent out a room. But sometimes that friendliness disappears as soon as they get your money. In my case, the attitude changed very quickly after I moved in.

Just 4 days after moving in, I was already being pushed out. After that, I was threatened throughout the entire time I lived there. Instead of feeling at home, I felt constant pressure, fear, and emotional stress.

They refused to return money they were supposed to give back.

I’m writing this because housing is not just about rent, location, or whether the room looks decent. The people you live with matter just as much. A cheap room is not worth living in fear.

I’m very grateful that tenant lawyers, tenant rights organizations, and the Landlord and Tenant Board exist. Know your rights, keep screenshots, save every message, and don’t ignore red flags the way I did.

Please I am not calling for anyone to bully or harass them. But I never want anyone else to go through this kind of bullying, but honestly, please be careful with unit 710, 18 Cedarcroft Blvd, North York, ON M2R 2Z2 — the most disturbing part was that the neighbors acted like it is everything is fine and in the same time they threatened to throw my things out on the street.