Toronto’s Worst Landlord: Carolyn Krebs Faces New Charges and Fines After Jail Sentence

Introduction

Just weeks after receiving a jail sentence, the woman dubbed by local media as “Toronto’s worst landlord” has been fined once again over safety violations at one of the city’s most notorious apartment buildings.

Carolyn Krebs, who owns troubled rental properties near Victoria Park Avenue and St. Clair Avenue East, was sentenced last month to 15 days in custody and ordered to pay $120,000 in fines plus a mandatory 25% victim fine surcharge after being convicted under Ontario’s Fire Protection and Prevention Act in connection with 608 Dawes Rd.

Now, Krebs is facing additional penalties tied to another property she owns at 500 Dawes Rd, a high-rise apartment building that has become synonymous with years of tenant complaints and deteriorating living conditions.

New Conviction at 500 Dawes Road

On Tuesday, Havcare Investments Inc., the registered owner of 500 Dawes Rd., and Krebs, a director of the company, were sentenced in Provincial Offences Court after being convicted under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act.

The court imposed a fine of $300,000 on Havcare Investments Inc., along with a fine of $20,000 on Carolyn Krebs, plus a mandatory 25% victim fine surcharge in relation to the charges.

According to Toronto Fire Services, the charges stemmed from failures to comply with fire safety requirements at the building.

“Compliance with the Ontario Fire Code is not optional, it is a legal obligation that exists to safeguard lives, property, and the safety of responding firefighters. When these requirements are not met, the consequences can be serious and far-reaching,” said Fire Chief Jim Jessop in a news release. “Property owners are responsible for ensuring their buildings meet fire safety standards at all times. Where there is a failure to comply, Toronto Fire Services will take appropriate enforcement action to hold those responsible accountable and reduce the risk to residents and communities.”

Over Two Decades of Hazardous Living Conditions

For more than 20 years, tenants at 500 Dawes Rd. have reported living with hazardous conditions including recurring maintenance issues, mould, mice, bedbugs and other pest infestations. Residents have also complained about water-damaged ceilings, deteriorating balconies and repairs that have reportedly gone unaddressed for years.

As a result, Krebs has earned a notorious reputation among tenants and housing advocates, with local media frequently referring to her as “Toronto’s worst landlord.”

Krebs, who goes by numerous aliases including Carolyn Goodman, Marian Linton and Marian Nelson, has accumulated more than 170 orders and violations at her properties over the years.

Mayor Olivia Chow Intervenes

The situation became so severe and unignorable that Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow personally visited 500 Dawes Rd. last month. There, she announced that the City of Toronto would provide relief and repairs to the building and billed Krebs $200,000 for the work.

The city’s remedial powers allow contractors to fix dangerous conditions with costs added to the landlord’s property taxes. However, officials have not used this tool since 2021.

The Dawes Road Tenants’ Association, led by Ryan Endoh, has been vocal about the situation. On social media following Krebs’s first sentencing, Endoh announced: “It’s finally happened. They’re locking up the owner of 500 Dawes Road.”

Endoh also noted that the cumulative fines now total about half a million dollars and that the city is “intent on ramping things up at other properties owned by Carolyn Goodman.”

RentSafeTO Score: A Failing Grade

Under Toronto’s RentSafeTO program, 500 Dawes Rd. has a current building evaluation score of 39%, with a note that the property requires “significant improvement.”

This score has been slowly improving over time. In December 2025, the evaluation was a mere 34%. In July 2025 it had been 40%. The building’s reactive score sits at -17%, which includes any confirmed notices of violation, orders to comply and emergency orders issued starting from January 1, 2024.

Buildings that receive an order to comply or notice of violation have their score reduced by 1% for a minimum of 30 days. The current score is far below neighbouring properties in the community.

Tenants Take Legal Action

In December 2025, tenants of 500 Dawes Rd. filed two multi-tenant applications at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), seeking rent refunds and action against Krebs citing years of neglect and unsafe conditions.

With legal support, tenants are pushing forward despite the potential wait of up to a year before their case is heard, due to backlogs at the LTB. The Dawes Road Tenants’ Association formally announced the applications at a press conference held on Thursday, with members and staff from Toronto ACORN and former City Councillor for Beaches—East York, Janet Davis, in attendance.

“There are 84 orders outstanding with thousands of violations contained within those orders,” Davis said at the press conference.

Timeline of Key Events

• Over 20 years: Continuous pattern of tenant complaints and safety violations at Krebs’ properties
• July 2025: Mayor Olivia Chow tours 500 Dawes Rd. and hears from tenants about water-damaged walls, out-of-service elevators and rusted balcony guards
• December 2025: Tenants file two multi-tenant applications at the LTB
• May 4, 2026: Mayor Chow visits 500 Dawes Rd. and announces city will provide repairs, billing Krebs $200,000
• May 27, 2026: Krebs sentenced to 15 days in custody and $120,000 fine for 608 Dawes Rd. fire safety violations
• June 2026: Krebs and Havcare Investments fined $300,000 and $20,000 respectively for 500 Dawes Rd. fire safety violations

Why This Matters for Toronto Renters

The case of Carolyn Krebs and 500 Dawes Rd. highlights systemic issues in Toronto’s rental housing market:

• Enforcement gaps: Despite 170+ orders and violations, the city’s remedial powers have not been used since 2021
• LTB backlog: Tenants face up to a year of waiting for their cases to be heard
• Landlord accountability: Even with hundreds of thousands in fines, the financial burden on tenants who endured years of unsafe conditions remains largely unaddressed
• Fire safety: Multiple convictions under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act underscore the life-safety risks posed by neglected rental properties

The case serves as a stark reminder of why programs like RentSafeTO exist and why stronger enforcement mechanisms may be needed to protect vulnerable tenants from the worst outcomes of unregulated property management.

What to Do If You Are a Tenant Facing Unsafe Conditions

If you are renting in Toronto and facing similar conditions, here are steps you can take:

• Document everything: Take photos, keep records of all maintenance requests and communication with your landlord
• Contact the City: Report violations through Toronto’s 311 service
• File at the LTB: Multi-tenant applications can be a powerful tool for collective action
• Join tenant associations: The Dawes Road Tenants’ Association is an example of how organized tenants can create change
• Consult a lawyer: Legal support can strengthen your case significantly

The story of Toronto’s worst landlord is far from over. As the city continues to pursue enforcement actions against Krebs and her properties, tenants across Toronto are watching closely for signs that the system is finally holding negligent landlords accountable.