Toronto 
Ever wondered what it would take to own a home on Toronto’s Islands? Unlike buying a house elsewhere in the city, purchasing a property on Ward’s Island or Algonquin Island begins with getting your name on a special waiting list.
The Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust Corporation has opened applications for its 2026 Purchasers’ List, giving interested buyers an opportunity to join the queue for homes that may become available in the future.
Applications close October 30, 2026, at 4 p.m. The non-refundable application fee is $20.
Why is there a lottery?
The Island housing system operates differently because the homes stand on publicly owned land. Under the Toronto Islands Residential Community Stewardship Act, 1993, residents can own their houses while leasing the land beneath them.
The Trust regulates property sales and prices to prevent homeowners from making windfall profits.
The law also requires a waiting list of prospective buyers. As the Trust explains, “By law, homes and leases can only be sold to people on the list.”
The list has a maximum of 500 names. When places become available, new applicants are selected through a random draw and added to the end of the waiting list.
How long could you wait?
Potentially years, with no guaranteed purchase date.
Since the list was established in 1994, only 70 island homes and leases have been sold. The Trust anticipates an average of just one or two sales annually.
When a property becomes available, offers generally go to the first 150 to 250 people on the list. Most buyers come from within the first 100 names.
How to apply
Applicants generally must be at least 18 years old, with an exception for eligible 16-year-olds under Ontario law. Each person may submit only one application.
Successful applicants must also pay an annual renewal fee, currently $50, to maintain their position.
Island homes must serve as the owners’ primary residences and cannot be used as vacation properties or investment rentals.
Applications are available through the Toronto Islands Residential Community Trust website.
Getting selected in the draw does not mean winning a house. It simply earns a place in line for a possible opportunity to buy one.
