Corporate landlords have “made rent more expensive,” says a cabinet report to MPs. However Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland stopped short of proposing repeal of preferential tax treatment for real estate investment trusts in her next budget due April 16.

“While large corporate investors own a significant share of Canada’s rental units and must play an important role in solving the housing crisis by building new homes, the government recognizes too many Canadians have experienced renovictions, above-guideline rent increases and other actions that have made rent more expensive,” said the report to the Commons human resources committee.

“More needs to be done to ensure these rental units are affordable for Canadians,” wrote cabinet. “It is best to consider policy changes applicable to large corporate landlords to ensure best outcomes on affordability and fair treatment without undermining the important role the private sector must play in building more rental housing for Canadians.”