The city of Toronto has received an increasing number of complaints related to impaired life-safety conditions in neighbourhoods where there are illegal room house operations. Staff in various city divisions have encountered unsafe living conditions including: homes where the density of occupants is beyond the capacity of the building to provide healthy or safe living; accommodations that are substantially below those required by building and fire codes; and individuals residing in buildings with significantly diminished standards and not suited for human occupancy. Beyond the structures in which they are housed, in many wards across the City, issues are being raised about the impact of rooming houses within communities themselves, including: parking, litter and noise issues.

In an effort to address issues relating to the condition and regulation of rooming houses and the implications that any changes may have for both tenants and the broader community, the city is launching a rooming house review. In august of 2014, staff recommended a research and consultation program (rooming house review) to identify the extent of issues affecting regulation and enforcement of standards in rooming houses, and opportunities to improve conditions in rooming houses, and bringing non-permitted rooming houses into compliance without jeopardizing housing for vulnerable tenants