An analysis of over 300 Above-Guideline Rent Increase (AGI) applications in Hamilton, Burlington, and Niagara Region revealed that 28 out of 32 applications in the Hamilton region in 2022 were filed by 19 corporate landlords. This trend has raised concerns about the affordability of housing for low- and moderate-income renters amidst a housing crisis in Ontario. Lulu Xi, a former tenant in a highrise owned by Equiton, shared her experience of dealing with deteriorating living conditions while facing a $400 above-guideline rent increase request that was not yet approved by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Equiton, the building’s owner, stated that the increase was necessary to cover maintenance costs and improve the resident experience. However, tenant advocates argue that such increases should be banned and that landlords should explore government programs for energy retrofitting instead.