MetCap
MetCap Living is a residential property management company with more than 20,000 rental units and over $2 billion in assets.
MetCap claims to have a “reputation as a fabulous Toronto property management company from 32 successful years in the industry.” In fact, MetCap has a well-documented history of provoking its tenants. MetCap tenants have spoken out about the harassment and neglect they have experienced as MetCap tenants while MetCap repeatedly raises rent above the government guideline at its buildings. MetCap describes this approach as “an ideal solution for multi-family property owners looking to achieve optimum asset management”. “Asset management” refers to MetCap’s calculated process of pushing and pricing working class tenants out of their homes in order to raise rents on vacant units.
In 2017 tenants in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood responded to MetCap’s provocations with a victorious rent strike. The rent strike was called by tenants after MetCap refused to address concerns about rent increases above the guideline at six buildings. At its, peak the months-long rent strike involved 300 units withholding rents and actions targeting the landlord, investors, and the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Though MetCap has taken a nicer tone with Parkdale tenants since the 2017 rent strike, tenants are still struggling with disrepair and increasing rents. During COVID-19, MetCap tenants across the GTA have called on MetCap to commit to not evict tenants who have been unable to pay because of the pandemic. As of June 28, 2020, MetCap has ignored tenants attempts at negotiations.
Brent Merrill, CEO
In 2006 MetCap was purchased by its then Vice President Brent Merill. It was then that MetCap sold off the buildings it owned, many to MetCap executives themselves, including Merrill and MetCap consultant Guy Alberga. Merrill continues to personally own apartment buildings that are still managed by MetCap today.
During the 2017 Parkdale rent strike, Merrill made the front page of the Toronto Star after nearly driving over a tenant at a protest. Rent striking tenants had been attempting to deliver a demand letter to a local property manager. When the property manager fled his office and attempted to drive away, tenants pursued him. The property manager sought refuge at another MetCap building nearby where a construction crew was working. From there he called Merrill who soon arrived on the scene in a pick-up truck to retrieve his employee. When tenants approached his truck Merrill hit the gas knocking one tenant to the ground and taking off side view mirrors of two vehicles parked on the street.
J. Richard Bird, Chairman AIMCO Board of Directors
A retired oil industry executive with Enbridge (formerly Imperial Oil), J. Richard Bird oversees the Alberta Investment Management Corporation (AIMCO) as chairman of its Board of Directors. AIMCO is a crown corporation of the government of Alberta which among other investments, manages the pension plans of Alberta government workers.
AIMCO co-owns many of MetCap’s Parkdale buildings. Despite its pledge of “corporate and social responsibility” AIMCO was a driving force behind the above guideline rent increases which led to Parkdale tenants going on rent strike in 2017. During the rent strike tenants attempted to deliver a demand letter to AIMCO’s Bay Street offices only to be met with an overwhelming presence of Toronto Police Services officers who prevented them from entering the building. Only after the rent strike grew to involve 300 units withholding rent and a campaign of escalating actions was undertaken by rent strikers culminating in a shutdown occupation of the Landlord and Tenant did AIMCO agree to come to the table to negotiate a settlement with the rent strikers.
Guy Alberga, Acquisition Manager
Guy Alberga began working with MetCap Living in 1988. Today he is listed as MetCap’s “Acquisition Consultant”. On top of “advising the president (Brent Merrill) on all aspects of the partnership”, he is also a part-owner of a number of Parkdale apartment buildings, along with Merrill. In fact, the ownership structure of many Parkdale apartment buildings managed by MetCap is that Alberga and Merrill own a 35% share of each building with AIMCO owning a 65% share.
During the 2017 Parkdale rent strike, Parkdale tenants chartered a bus which they boarded in Parkdale and traveled to Alberga's Forest Hill home. Alberga would not face his tenants that day but the mounting pressure on MetCap and AIMCO soon brought them to the table.
Buildings Run by MetCap
12 Elm Grove Avenue
32 Maynard Avenue
47 Spencer Avenue
75 Spencer Avenue
24 Tyndall Avenue
40 Tyndall Avenue
60 Tyndall Avenue
115 Tyndall Avenue
118 Tyndall Avenue
135 Tyndall Avenue
87 Jameson Avenue
90 Jameson Avenue
91 Jameson Avenue
96 Jameson Avenue
140 Jameson Avenue
146 Jameson Avenue
169 Jameson Avenue
200 Jameson Avenue
99 Dowling Avenue
115 Dowling Avenue
150 Dowling Avenue
191 Sherbourne Street
201 Sherbourne Street
837 Roselawn Avenue
9 Craigton Drive
23 Craigton Drive
32 Craigton Drive
40 Craigton Drive
860 Pharmacy Ave
25 Cougar Court
1501 Woodbine Ave.
750 Morningside
10 Yorkwoods Gate
18 Steeles Ave E
25 Jansusie Rd
35 Jansusie Rd
1303 Wilson Avenue
1307 Wilson Avenue
1305 Wilson Avenue
1309 Wilson Avenue
1450 Sheppard Avenue W.
15 Eva Road
340 & 350 East Mall
555 The West Mall
1 Crown Hill Place
2737 Kipling Avenue
2757 Kipling Avenue
40 Stevenson Road
440 Rathburn Road
1915 Martin Grove Road
70 Rexdale Boulevard
920 Inverhouse Drive
95 Paisley Avenue
85 Silver Springs Boulevard
87 Silver Springs Boulevard
89 Silver Springs Boulevard
15 Craigton Drive
1320 Danforth
1330 Danforth
1340 Danforth Rd.
1350 Danforth Rd.
1360 Danforth Rd.
806 Kennedy Road
19 Craigton Drive
1315 Silver Spear Road
3122 Hurontario Street
1485 Williamsport Drive
3480 Havenwood Drive
1475 Bloor Street
1539-1647 Williamsport Drive
3468-3532 Fieldgate Drive
141 Main Street South
7170 Darcel Avenue
7230 Darcel Avenue
7280 Darcel Avenue
7030 Netherbrae Road
7110 Darcel Avenue
3045 Queen Frederica Drive
1 Rannock Street
15 Dundonald Street
80 Wellesley Street
155 Wellesley Street
77 Wellesley Street
97 Silver Springs Boulevard
99 Silver Springs Boulevard
91 Silver Springs Boulevard
93 Silver Springs Boulevard
95 Silver Springs Boulevard
35 Greenbrae Circuit
45 Greencrest Circuit
70 Stevenvale Drive
2700 Lawrence Ave, E
2702 Lawrence Ave, E
3895 Lawrence East
Tenant Testimonials
““I joined the rent strike in 2017 because of how MetCap treats its tenants with disrespect. We organized with our neighbours and we won. Things were better for a while. But now MetCap says COVID evictions are out of its hands. That’s a lie. So we have to organize with our neighbours again. People in Parkdale will not accept COVID evictions from MetCap or any other landlord.”
-Parkdale tenant
“
“On June 5 we delivered our demands to the MetCap office on Tyndall Avenue in Parkdale. First they refused to accept the letter. Then they called the cops. Finally they agreed to take our letter. But the next day MetCap sent private security guards to patrol in front of our buildings with batons in hand. This is how MetCap responds to tenants’ organizing.”
— Parkdale tenant
In The News
'Eviction by another name': tenants upset about rent increases by Parkdale landlord
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-parkdale-rent-apartment-protest-1.4027266
Parkdale landlord MetCap facing growing backlash over rent hikes at 87 Jameson
https://nowtoronto.com/news/parkdale-landlord-metcap-rent-87-jameson/
Parkdale tenants kick off ‘rent strike’ to demand repairs, end to rent hikes
'We've fought bed bugs for months': Spryfield tenants protest 'sub-standard' living conditions
Parkdale property CEO nearly hits tenant advocate with truck
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2017/05/30/rent-strike-tensions-boil-over-in-parkdale.html
Months-long Toronto rent strike ends in win for tenants
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/zmy8w5/months-long-toronto-rent-strike-ends-in-win-for-tenants
Tenants of this Burlington apartment are outraged with the numerous issues
Halifax tenants fighting landlords over cold apartments
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/cold-apartments-halifax-tenant-landlord-bylaw-1.4502341
AIMCO Parkdale landlord always intended to evict
https://www.cp24.com/video?clipId=1131465
Parkdale tenants facing eviction after protesting rent hikes
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/parkdale-tenants-facing-eviction-after-protesting-rent-hikes-1.3426835
This is Parkdale
Tenants in Parkdale discuss their struggle to protect their neighbourhood from MetCap Living Management.
Share your MetCap stories with us.
Tenants across the city are organizing together against rent increases, disrepair and disrespect. Tell us about your experiences as a MetCap tenant and join your neighbours.
