Ontario tenant rights FAQ: rent, leases, evictions, and the LTB

A landlord must provide a minimum of 90 days' written notice using the proper LTB form (usually Form N1 or N2). Rent can only be increased once every 12 months.

This depends on when your unit was first occupied for residential purposes:

• Rent-controlled units (first occupied on or before November 15, 2018): your landlord can only raise your rent by the annual provincial guideline amount. For 2026, the rent increase guideline is 2.1%. To raise it beyond this, the landlord must apply to the LTB for an Above Guideline Increase (AGI).
• Exempt units (first occupied after November 15, 2018): newer builds, including newly finished basement apartments occupied for the first time after November 15, 2018, are exempt from rent control. Landlords can raise the rent by any amount, provided they still give 90 days' notice and only do it once every 12 months.

In Ontario, rent control is tied to the building, not the tenant. The golden rule is the November 15, 2018 cutoff.

• Rent-controlled: if anyone lived in the unit for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018, the unit is rent-controlled. Your landlord can only raise the rent by the provincial guideline, which is set at 2.1% for 2026.
• Not rent-controlled: if the unit was occupied for the very first time after November 15, 2018, it is exempt from rent control. Landlords can raise the rent by any amount they choose, as long as they give 90 days' notice on the proper form and wait 12 months between increases.

This is a common trap for renters. If you live in an older house built in 1990, but the landlord created a brand new basement apartment in it and rented it out for the very first time in 2020, that specific basement apartment is not rent-controlled, even though the rest of the house might be.

If a landlord claims your unit is not rent-controlled and hands you a massive rent increase, do not just take their word for it. You have the right to investigate:

• Ask for proof: request that the landlord provide the building permits or occupancy permits showing when the unit was completed and first lived in.
• Check property records: you can check with your municipality's building or zoning department to see when residential permits were closed.
• Talk to neighbours: if you are in a multi-unit building, ask long-term neighbours when the building opened.

If you believe the landlord is claiming the exemption to raise your rent illegally, you can file an A9 application with the LTB to have it officially determine whether your unit is rent-controlled.

Under the RTA, landlords can only legally ask for two types of deposits:

• Last month's rent (LMR): this can only be applied to your final month of tenancy and cannot be used to cover damages.
• Key deposit: this must be strictly refundable and cannot exceed the actual replacement cost of the keys, fobs, or entry cards.

Security deposits, damage deposits, and pet deposits are completely illegal in Ontario.

No. Credit score doesn't change the law. Last month's rent and a key deposit are the only legal collections. If a tenant damages the unit, the landlord's remedy is to bill for the repair or file a claim with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), not to hold money up front.

Yes. In Ontario, most landlords are legally required to use the Ontario Standard Lease form for any tenancy agreement signed on or after April 30, 2018. If your landlord does not use this form, you have the right to demand one. If they fail to provide it within 21 days of your written request, you are legally permitted to withhold one month's rent.

Ask for the Ontario Standard Lease in writing. If it still hasn't arrived 21 days after your written request, you're legally permitted to withhold one month's rent. One nuance worth knowing: you may only keep that withheld month if the lease still hasn't been provided 30 days after you started withholding, and the maximum is one month.

If you pay rent monthly, you must provide at least 60 days' written notice using an N9 form. The termination date must align with the last day of your rental period (usually the last day of the month). If you are in the middle of a one-year lease, you cannot break it early without the landlord's consent, or by legally assigning the lease to someone else.

In Ontario, a lease is a binding legal contract. You cannot simply walk away before your fixed term (for example, a one-year lease) is up without potentially being financially responsible for the remaining months' rent. However, there are legally permissible ways to end your tenancy early.

The easiest way to break a lease is if your landlord agrees to let you go. If you both agree to part ways, you must sign an N11 form (Agreement to End the Tenancy). Once signed by both parties, you are legally free to move out on the agreed-upon date with no further financial penalty.

If your landlord refuses an N11, your best legal option is to ask for permission to assign your lease to a new tenant.

• If the landlord says no to a lease assignment in general, or ignores your written request for 7 days, you gain the legal right to break your lease.
• You can then serve the landlord with an N9 form (Tenant's Notice to End the Tenancy), providing just 30 days' notice, even if you are in the middle of a fixed-term lease.

While often confused, they are two different legal processes:

• Subletting: you move out of your unit for a specific period (for example, a summer vacation) and rent it to someone else, but you plan to return before the lease expires. You remain the legal tenant and are still responsible to the landlord.
• Assigning: you move out permanently and transfer your lease agreement, including the current rent price, to a new tenant. You have no right to return.

You need your landlord's written consent for both. Doing it without consent is an illegal transfer, and the landlord can apply to the LTB to evict both you and the unauthorized occupant.

Yes. If you or a child living with you has experienced domestic violence or sexual abuse, you can end your tenancy early by providing just 28 days' notice. You must use an N15 form and provide a signed statement or a copy of a peace bond or restraining order. This process is highly confidential: the landlord cannot legally tell the other tenants (or the abuser, if they are on the lease) why you are leaving.

If rent is not paid in full on the day it is due, the landlord can issue an N4 notice (Notice to End your Tenancy for Non-payment of Rent) as early as the next day. If you pay the full amount owed before the deadline on the notice, currently 14 days for monthly tenancies, the notice is voided.

Yes, but strict rules apply. If the landlord (or their immediate family) wants to move in, or if they have sold the home and the purchaser wants to move in, they must issue an N12 notice.

• You must be given at least 60 days' notice.
• The landlord must provide you with one month's rent as compensation by the termination date on the notice.
• You cannot be evicted this way if you are still in the middle of a fixed-term lease.

A renoviction occurs when a landlord wants to evict a tenant to do extensive repairs or renovations. In Ontario, they must issue an N13 notice and give 120 days' notice. The renovations must be so extensive that they require a building permit and the unit must be vacant. Tenants have the right of first refusal, meaning they can choose to move back into the unit once renovations are complete at the rent they were paying, subject to any lawful guideline increases in the meantime.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is a specialized tribunal in Ontario that resolves disputes between residential landlords and tenants. It functions similarly to a court but is less formal. The LTB enforces the rules outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

If a dispute cannot be resolved privately, either the landlord or the tenant can file an application with the LTB. Here is how the process generally unfolds:

1. Application and notice: once an application is filed, the LTB will issue a Notice of Hearing detailing the time, date, and whether the hearing is virtual or in-person.
2. Evidence submission: both parties must gather and submit their evidence (documents, photos, texts, receipts) before the hearing. Timeliness is crucial; missing the deadline means your evidence may not be considered.
3. The hearing: an adjudicator (the LTB member) will oversee the hearing. Both sides get a chance to present their case, call witnesses, and ask questions.
4. The decision: the adjudicator will issue a legally binding written order, usually sent out days or weeks after the hearing.

If you believe the order got something seriously wrong, you can ask the LTB to review it, and that window is now 15 days.

Except in the case of a true emergency (like a fire or major leak), a landlord must provide 24 hours' written notice before entering. The notice must specify the reason for entry (such as a repair, inspection, or showing the unit), and the entry must happen between the hours of 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM.

The landlord is legally responsible for all maintenance and repairs, ensuring the unit meets all health, safety, and property standards. This includes appliances that came with the unit, plumbing, electrical, and heating. Tenants are only responsible for repairing undue damage they or their guests cause, and for maintaining ordinary cleanliness.

Never withhold your rent to force a repair. That gives the landlord legal grounds to evict you. Instead, document the issue and communicate your request in writing. If the landlord still refuses, you can file a T6 application with the LTB, which can order the landlord to do the repairs and potentially offer you a rent abatement (a partial refund of rent) for the time the unit was in disrepair.

Always make your repair requests in writing. While a phone call or verbal conversation might seem faster, it leaves no paper trail if the issue goes unresolved. You can use an email, a text message, or a formal written letter (often called a work order or maintenance request).

If you ever need to escalate a maintenance issue to the LTB, your evidence will make or break your case. Follow these steps:

• Be specific: clearly describe the problem, where it is located, and how it impacts your living situation.
• Take photos and videos: capture clear, dated visual evidence of the damage or issue as soon as you notice it.
• Keep a log: maintain a timeline of when the problem started, when you notified the landlord, and any follow-up conversations.
• Save all responses: keep copies of all emails, texts, or letters your landlord sends back.

The RTA requires landlords to address repair problems within reason, but this depends on the severity. Urgent issues related to vital services (like no heat in the winter, a burst pipe, or no electricity) must be addressed within 24 hours. Non-urgent issues (like a dripping faucet or a cracked tile) should generally be addressed within a few days to a week.

Under the RTA, vital services include heat, hot and cold water, fuel, and electricity. A landlord is legally prohibited from shutting off these services, even if you are behind on your rent or utility payments. Turning off a vital service is a serious offence that can result in heavy fines for the landlord.

No. Under the RTA, landlords cannot prohibit you from having guests, limit the number of guests you have, or dictate how long they can stay. Any clause in your lease that attempts to ban guests or charge extra fees for them is void and unenforceable. You have the right to reasonable enjoyment of your home.

Understanding these distinctions is crucial in Ontario:

• Guest: someone visiting you temporarily.
• Roommate (occupant): someone who moves in with you, pays a share of the rent to you, but is not on the lease. They have no direct legal relationship with the landlord and are not protected by the LTB.
• Subtenant: someone who takes over your entire unit temporarily while you move out, with the intention that you will return before the lease ends.

While you can move a roommate in without permission, you (the leaseholder) are 100% legally and financially responsible for their behaviour, including any damages they cause or noise complaints they generate.

No. A landlord cannot increase your rent or charge extra fees simply because another person moves into your rental unit. The only exception is if you live in subsidized or Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing, where rent is calculated based on household income and specific guest policies apply.

No. Under Section 14 of the RTA, no-pet clauses in a lease are void. Even if you signed a lease agreeing not to bring a pet, the landlord cannot evict you for getting one.

Exception: if you live in a condominium, the condo corporation's specific bylaws or declarations regarding pets will override the RTA. A landlord can also apply to the LTB to evict a tenant if a pet is dangerous, causes severe allergic reactions, or significantly damages the property.

In Ontario, landlords have the right to thoroughly screen applicants to ensure they will be reliable tenants. You can legally ask for:

• Proof of income (pay stubs, employment letters)
• Credit checks and references
• Rental history
• Identification (to verify they are who they say they are)

What you cannot do: you cannot legally require a Social Insurance Number (SIN), though you can ask if they want to provide it voluntarily for a credit check. You are also strictly forbidden by the Ontario Human Rights Code from declining an applicant based on race, religion, age, sexual orientation, family status (for example, having children), or receipt of public assistance.

No. This is one of the most common mistakes new Ontario landlords make. Regardless of a tenant's credit score, income, or if they have pets, you can only legally collect a Last Month's Rent (LMR) deposit and a fully refundable key deposit. You cannot ask for a security deposit, damage deposit, or pet deposit. If a tenant damages the unit, you must bill them for the repair or file a claim with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB); you cannot hold back money upfront to cover it.

Tenants are responsible for undue damage caused by their own negligence or the actions of their guests, but they are not responsible for standard wear and tear. If a tenant breaks a window or punches a hole in the wall:

1. Ask them in writing to repair the damage or pay for the repair costs.
2. If they refuse, you can issue an N5 notice (Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage or Overcrowding).
3. If they do not correct the issue within 7 days, you can file an L2 application with the LTB to seek compensation or eviction.