ontario rent

Ontario landlord posts ad charging $500 for tent space in private encampment

A shocking rental listing in Ontario was offering up property for people to pitch their tents on for a price in a scheme that is being called "a private encampment" and a shocking development in the province's housing crisis.

A since-deleted Kijiji ad from Barrie appeared to target individuals currently struggling in the encampments that have popped up in city parks around the province with the title "HELP for people in Homeless Tent encampment Private Property."

"We are welcoming people who are living in their tents encampment [sic] to set up on our cottage property in the town of Innisfil Ontario. Private Property," the first line of the ad, which still appears in a Google search, reads.

ontario rent

The ad, though deleted, still shows up in a Google search.

Local outlet Innisfil Today stated that the rent was listed as $500, though the listing didn't specify if that was a per-month price.

The ad also allegedly said tenants would have access to electricity, a bathroom, a community fridge in a common kitchen, and even "job opportunities."

While many residents are balking at the concept of a "for-profit encampment" and how bad the GTA's housing market has become, others are more concerned with the fact that staff of a local politician, Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin, inadvertently forwarded individuals seeking shelter to the property at 25th Sideroad.

"Who had 'for-profit homeless encampment' on their 2024 Bingo cards?? Really, it should not be that surprising," one shocked local wrote on X Thursday.

Others simply responded to both the listing and the MPP office snafu with a "what the f***."

A representative of a local housing justice network told Innisfil Today that it appeared that the person behind the ad may have meant well, but offered their property on terms that were undeniably "pretty exploitative of people in a very vulnerable position."

Lead photo by

Jeremy Gilbert/Flickr


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Real Estate

Over 80% of Toronto area investors are losing money on new condos

GTA developers have pressed pause on 24k planned condo units due to market slump

This $4 million dream house in Mississauga comes with resort-like features

These are the best cities in Ontario for renters in 2024

Toronto's next two breathtaking flatiron buildings just started construction

This $2 million Toronto home's interiors are like taking a trip back in time

Condo tower proposed to soar high above Toronto museum

This $22 million fairytale-inspired Ontario mansion has an indoor waterpark