Amber Shortt
@amber7shortt.bsky.social
Toronto Star housing editor. Email: [email protected].
I write a weekly Toronto housing newsletter, sign up for "Living Here" here: http://thestar.com/newsletters.
I write a weekly Toronto housing newsletter, sign up for "Living Here" here: http://thestar.com/newsletters.
Reposted by Amber Shortt
February 12, 2026 at 2:05 PM
Reposted by Amber Shortt
I spent the week in Minneapolis. About the only thing I’m sure of now is that more people are going to die. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Richard Warnica: In Minnesota, I witnessed Donald Trump’s American carnage made real
As confrontations between ICE and protestors and activists grow more common, the tension only rises.
www.thestar.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:43 PM
I spent the week in Minneapolis. About the only thing I’m sure of now is that more people are going to die. www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
The latest Toronto condo cancellation: Developer Menkes has pulled the plug on their "Elektra" condo, planned for the site of Filmores Gentlemen's club. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Massive condo tower set to replace Filmores hotel cancelled by developer
Menkes Developments says the project was cancelled due to insufficient funds.
www.thestar.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The latest Toronto condo cancellation: Developer Menkes has pulled the plug on their "Elektra" condo, planned for the site of Filmores Gentlemen's club. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
These Toronto renters say their needs were ignored while landlords made renovations in empty units
While financial landlords say renovations are needed to modernize old rental stock, advocates say the practice is part of a profit-maximizing strategy. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
While financial landlords say renovations are needed to modernize old rental stock, advocates say the practice is part of a profit-maximizing strategy. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
These renters say their needs were ignored while their landlords did ‘amazing’ renovations on empty units
These renters say their needs were ignored while their landlords did ‘amazing’ renovations on empty units. A landlords group says renovations are necessary to update Toronto’s aging rental stock.
www.thestar.com
January 6, 2026 at 3:42 PM
These Toronto renters say their needs were ignored while landlords made renovations in empty units
While financial landlords say renovations are needed to modernize old rental stock, advocates say the practice is part of a profit-maximizing strategy. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
While financial landlords say renovations are needed to modernize old rental stock, advocates say the practice is part of a profit-maximizing strategy. www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
CEO of Ontario real estate regulator out in wake of iPro Realty scandal
CEO of Ontario real estate regulator out in wake of iPro Realty scandal
RECO’s Brenda Buchanan’s exit follows the dismissal of the entire board after the Ford government took over the regulator last month.
www.thestar.com
December 18, 2025 at 7:09 PM
CEO of Ontario real estate regulator out in wake of iPro Realty scandal
Reposted by Amber Shortt
‘This comes down to power.’ Why the clash between frustrated renters and the Ford government feels different this time
‘This comes down to power.’ Why the clash between frustrated renters and the Ford government feels different this time
‘This comes down to power.’ The clash between frustrated renters and the Ford government feels different this time, with experts saying worsening affordability set a high-stakes stage for Bill 60.
www.thestar.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:57 PM
‘This comes down to power.’ Why the clash between frustrated renters and the Ford government feels different this time
Reposted by Amber Shortt
Starlight investments, Canada‘s largest private landlord, often dramatically increases eviction applications after acquiring buildings, study finds
My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Canada’s largest private landlord often dramatically increases eviction applications after acquiring buildings, study finds
Starlight Investments filed 15 eviction applications per 100 units each year, while chain owned and managed properties filed seven applications per 100 units, a recent study found.
www.thestar.com
August 29, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Starlight investments, Canada‘s largest private landlord, often dramatically increases eviction applications after acquiring buildings, study finds
My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
My latest @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Latest on iPro Realty, from @clarriefeinstein.bsky.social and Diana Zlomislic: "Richer also confirmed that RECO’s most recent audit of iPro Realty took place in late May 2025 and that before that, it had not audited the brokerage, which employed 2,400 agents across 17 offices, since 2021."
August 19, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Latest on iPro Realty, from @clarriefeinstein.bsky.social and Diana Zlomislic: "Richer also confirmed that RECO’s most recent audit of iPro Realty took place in late May 2025 and that before that, it had not audited the brokerage, which employed 2,400 agents across 17 offices, since 2021."
Reposted by Amber Shortt
Toronto’s renoviction bylaw takes effect Thursday.
Here’s how the city aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in bad faith @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Here’s how the city aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in bad faith @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Toronto’s ‘renoviction’ bylaw takes effect Thursday. Here’s what you need to know
Toronto’s new renoviction bylaw aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants for renovations in bad faith. Here’s what you need to know.
www.thestar.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Toronto’s renoviction bylaw takes effect Thursday.
Here’s how the city aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in bad faith @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Here’s how the city aims to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in bad faith @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/real-estate/...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
It was once envisioned as a tech-driven neighbourhood of the future, then a cluster of new lakeside condos. Now, the emerging Quayside redevelopment on Toronto’s eastern waterfront is posed to become a renters’ playground.
Quayside was once going to be Toronto’s high-tech neighbourhood of the future — now it’s taken another unexpected turn
Once dreamed as a high-tech neighbourhood of the future, the east Toronto land will now be a renters’ playground as the condo market tanks.
thestar.com
June 13, 2025 at 2:05 PM
It was once envisioned as a tech-driven neighbourhood of the future, then a cluster of new lakeside condos. Now, the emerging Quayside redevelopment on Toronto’s eastern waterfront is posed to become a renters’ playground.
Reposted by Amber Shortt
Why Toronto’s slow real estate market could mean fewer seniors selling their home to downsize.
Falling home prices, the condo crash and economic turmoil are leading many retirees to hit pause on downsizing plans.
Falling home prices, the condo crash and economic turmoil are leading many retirees to hit pause on downsizing plans.
Why Toronto’s slow real estate market could mean fewer seniors selling their home to downsize
Falling home prices, the condo crash and economic turmoil are leading many retirees to hit pause on downsizing plans.
www.thestar.com
June 13, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Why Toronto’s slow real estate market could mean fewer seniors selling their home to downsize.
Falling home prices, the condo crash and economic turmoil are leading many retirees to hit pause on downsizing plans.
Falling home prices, the condo crash and economic turmoil are leading many retirees to hit pause on downsizing plans.
Reposted by Amber Shortt
‘This is the largest award of compensation that I have seen’: Metrolinx ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars more than what it first offered for Ontario Line site www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi... via @thestar.com
‘This is the largest award of compensation that I have seen’: Metrolinx ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars more than what it first offered for Ontario Line site
The provincial transit agency had initially appraised the property in Corktown at $46 million — instead it was ordered to pay nearly double.
www.thestar.com
June 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
‘This is the largest award of compensation that I have seen’: Metrolinx ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars more than what it first offered for Ontario Line site www.thestar.com/news/gta/thi... via @thestar.com
Reposted by Amber Shortt
Toronto Fire ordered their landlords to comply with the fire code. Now, these tenants fear losing their affordable rentals for good
My latest for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
My latest for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Toronto Fire ordered their landlords to comply with the fire code. Now, these tenants fear losing their affordable rentals for good
These tenants and their lawyer argue some landlords are using the notices as an excuse to evict longtime tenants in rent-controlled units so they can charge higher, market-rate prices.
www.thestar.com
May 20, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Toronto Fire ordered their landlords to comply with the fire code. Now, these tenants fear losing their affordable rentals for good
My latest for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
My latest for @thestar.com
www.thestar.com/news/gta/tor...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
A shocking investigation from Toronto's ombudsman: These rooming-house tenants endured ‘torture’ while their utilities were shut off for months. A new report finds the city did nothing to help them www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
These rooming-house tenants endured ‘torture’ while their utilities were shut off for months. A new report finds the city did nothing to help them
A damning new report finds the city failed to enforce bylaws meant to protect tenants.
www.thestar.com
May 16, 2025 at 12:41 PM
A shocking investigation from Toronto's ombudsman: These rooming-house tenants endured ‘torture’ while their utilities were shut off for months. A new report finds the city did nothing to help them www.thestar.com/news/gta/the...
Reposted by Amber Shortt
Journo alert: Applications are now open for the 2025-26 William Southam Journalism Fellowships @MasseyCollege. It's an incredible experience. I did it in 2017-18 and happy to go on about it. Deadline is March 31, 2025. www.masseycollege.ca/journalism-f...
Wm. Southam Journalism Fellows – Massey College
www.masseycollege.ca
January 28, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Journo alert: Applications are now open for the 2025-26 William Southam Journalism Fellowships @MasseyCollege. It's an incredible experience. I did it in 2017-18 and happy to go on about it. Deadline is March 31, 2025. www.masseycollege.ca/journalism-f...