Who: Grant Sadler, 49, founder of Smartified Home, which provides security, surveillance and smart home installation services

The history: In 2018, Sadler lived in a three-bed, one-bath rental at Broadview and Danforth, paying $2,400 a month. His three kids stayed with him part time. That summer, the city rolled out its laneway suite program, permitting laneway structures in residential zones in Toronto and East York. Sadler followed the news closely.

Soon after, while looking for a property to purchase, Sadler stumbled upon a three-bed, two-bath semi at Danforth and Greenwood, listed for $915,000. The house had a laneway garage out back, which Sadler imagined converting into a laneway suite that he could rent out to supplement his income.