Why this 30-something teacher will never leave his Harbourfront rental

The Renter

Justin Gordon is a 33-year-old teacher who has lived in his unit on Queens Quay for more than 10 years. During that time, he has shared the space with six different roommates, but in 2024, he decided to live solo and began covering the $2,370 monthly rent himself. He has no plans to buy a home and wants to rent for life. “Even if I had the down payment today, I don’t think I would bite,” he says. “It just doesn’t give me the flexibility that I want.”

The Rental

A rent-controlled two-bedroom-plus-den right on the central waterfront. At 750 square feet, it’s a little tight, but Justin still loves the lake views as well as his building’s new pool, gym and laundry room. His story also scored him an appearance on Home Network’s Rentovation, which paid for his unit’s makeover. The renovation was influenced by Justin’s personal style: cool, contemporary and colourful.

The Tour

Guests will first see the 63-square-foot kitchen as they enter the apartment. That natural-stone backsplash was part of the reno, as were the stainless steel appliances.

The kitchen’s pony wall cutout adds the illusion of space and makes hosting a breeze. Note the many cabinets, also new.

In the living room, textured paint mimics concrete, giving the space a post-industrial feel. That couch-side table is a space saver that expands into a full-size dining table.

See?

Contemporary pieces, like the vibrant orange couch, contrast elegantly with vintage flourishes, such as Justin’s writing table and antique armoire.

An opposite view highlights kitchen accessibility, plus the built-in entertainment system.

The mock-concrete walls continue in the main bedroom, paired with another renter-friendly hack: rechargeable bedside hanging lamps.

Those floating bedside tables double as storage cabinets, and there’s additional roll-out storage under the bed.

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