Manitoba Tenant Rights: Steps If Repairs Are Done Poorly

If you're a tenant in Manitoba and repairs in your rental unit have been completed poorly, you have clear rights and options under provincial law. Safe, well-maintained housing is a legal requirement for landlords. Understanding how to address shoddy repairs helps ensure your home remains healthy and comfortable. This guide explains what to do when repairs aren’t up to standard, your rights as a tenant, and how to get help from official bodies in Manitoba.

What Are Your Landlord’s Repair Obligations in Manitoba?

Manitoba landlords must keep rental units in a state that is safe, in good repair, and compliant with health, building, and safety standards as outlined in the Residential Tenancies Act (Manitoba).^[1] This includes:

• Carrying out necessary repairs on time
• Ensuring repairs are done to a professional and lasting standard
• Using qualified tradespeople for technical or complex repairs

If a repair is done carelessly, with low-quality materials, or fails soon after, your landlord may not have met their legal responsibilities. In such situations, you have the right to request a proper fix.

Common Examples of Poor Repairs

• Leaky plumbing is patched but leaks again within days
• Patching over mould without fixing the cause
• Appliances replaced with unsafe or inoperable units
• Structural repairs that create new hazards

Always document repairs with dated photos and keep copies of notices to your landlord for your records.

Steps to Take If Repairs Are Done Poorly in Your Rental

Addressing substandard repairs involves communication, documentation, and (if needed) formal action. Here’s a step-by-step overview:

1. Document the problem. Take clear notes and photographs of the repair and the issues that remain or have arisen since the work was done.
2. Notify your landlord in writing. Explain why the repair is inadequate and request that it be properly fixed by a certain reasonable date.
3. Keep all communication. Any emails, texts, letters, or forms exchanged should be saved. These can be important if the issue escalates.
4. If no action is taken, file a formal complaint. Manitoba tenants can apply to the Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB), the provincial body that resolves landlord-tenant disputes.^[2]

Key RTB Forms for Reporting Poor Repairs

• Application for an Order of Possession or Other Remedies (Form 3) — Use this if your landlord isn’t addressing poor repairs, or if the problem is urgent or affects your health and safety.
  How to use: Complete the form with details and evidence (e.g., photos, written notices) and submit it to the RTB. Your complaint will be reviewed, and there may be a hearing if necessary.
  Access Form 3 via the official Manitoba government site.
• Request for Repairs or Services (Form 2) — Use this to request non-urgent repairs and to create a written record of your request.
  How to use: Describe the repair, why it's inadequate, and submit to your landlord and keep a copy for your records.
  Access Form 2 (Request for Repairs) here.

Your landlord must respond and act in a reasonable timeframe. If not, the RTB can order repairs or even authorize you to hire someone to complete the work and deduct the cost from your rent (with proper process).

Health, Safety, and Your Right to Habitable Housing

Repairs done badly can create or worsen Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting. Manitoba law makes landlords responsible for ensuring your unit is safe and sanitary. If shoddy repairs affect things like heating, plumbing, electrical systems, or structure, contact the RTB right away. In emergencies, your local public health authority may also help.

Tip: Don’t stop paying rent because of poor repairs unless specifically told to do so by the RTB. Withholding rent could put you at risk for eviction.

Timeline: How Long Should Repairs Take?

Landlords are expected to address routine repairs in a reasonable period. Emergency repairs — affecting health or safety — should be fixed immediately. For timelines and more details, see Routine Repairs in Rental Units: Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities.

If Your Complaint Isn’t Resolved

If informal communication and written requests don’t resolve the problem, the RTB may order:

• Your landlord to carry out proper repairs by a deadline
• Compensation (like a rent reduction) if you’ve suffered losses
• Authority for you to hire someone to do the work (and deduct cost from rent)

This process creates legal accountability for landlords in Manitoba.

For a broader overview of rights and processes, visit Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Manitoba.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do if the same problem keeps coming back after repairs?
   If repeated repairs don’t solve the issue, notify your landlord in writing each time. Provide photos and timelines. If problems still aren’t fixed, file a complaint with the RTB using the proper form.
2. Can I hire a contractor myself if the landlord won’t fix something properly?
   Generally, you need written approval from the RTB before arranging repairs yourself and deducting the cost from your rent. Don’t proceed without this approval to avoid risks.
3. Can my landlord evict me for complaining about repairs?
   No, Manitoba law prohibits retaliation. A landlord cannot end your tenancy or penalize you for asserting your legal rights.
4. Are tenants responsible for any repairs?
   Tenants must keep the unit reasonably clean and not cause damage, but landlords are responsible for repairs unless the tenant caused the problem through negligence or misuse. For details, see Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.
5. How quickly must a landlord fix repairs that affect health or safety?
   Repairs that impact your health or safety (like heat, plumbing, or security) should be addressed as soon as possible—sometimes within 24 hours. Contact the RTB or local health authority in emergencies.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) — Main body for complaints, applications, and guidance on tenant-landlord disputes in Manitoba.
• Manitoba Government's Tenant Rights and Responsibilities Guide (PDF)
• Local community legal clinics and tenant advocacy groups for advice and assistance

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1. [1] See the Residential Tenancies Act (Manitoba) for detailed legal obligations and tenant rights.
2. [2] The Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) is Manitoba's official dispute resolution authority for rental matters.

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