Top 5 Tenant Maintenance and Repair Rules in Nunavut

As a tenant living in Nunavut, understanding how maintenance and repairs work in your rental is key for a healthy, safe living space. Nunavut’s unique climate and housing environment make maintenance issues common, so knowing your rights and responsibilities not only helps you keep your home in good condition—it can also help you resolve problems smoothly with your landlord. Here are the top five things every tenant in Nunavut should know about maintenance and repairs.

1. Know Who’s Responsible: Landlord vs. Tenant

In Nunavut, maintenance and repair responsibilities are mainly set by the Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act^[1]. Generally, landlords must ensure that the rental is fit for habitation and complies with health and safety standards. This includes:

• Keeping common areas clean and safe
• Ensuring heating, plumbing, and ‘essential services’ are in working order
• Promptly making repairs when notified

Tenants are responsible for keeping their unit reasonably clean and for repairing any damage they or their guests cause (aside from regular wear and tear). For a detailed guide, see Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

2. What to Do When Repairs Are Needed

If you notice something that needs repair (like a broken heater or leaking pipes), tell your landlord in writing as soon as possible. Include specific details and keep a copy for your records. This written notice is important if you need to take further action later.

If the issue is affected by health and safety laws (like mold, water leakage, or unsafe wiring), repairs should be treated as urgent.

Required Official Form: Application to Director (Form 2)

If your landlord doesn’t respond or fix a serious problem, you can fill out Form 2: Application to Director from the Office of the Rental Officer. Use this form if:

• Your landlord does not address maintenance concerns after written notice
• You need the Rental Officer to make an order (for example, requiring repairs or a rent abatement)

Find the form and instructions on the official Nunavut Rental Office forms page. Complete the form, attach documentation (your notice, photos, etc.), and submit it to the Rental Office.

3. Dealing with Emergency Repairs

Emergency repairs are for situations that make your home unsafe or uninhabitable, such as broken heating in winter or burst pipes. If you can’t reach your landlord and the issue can’t wait, Nunavut tenants may, in limited urgent cases, arrange the repairs themselves and keep the receipts to deduct from the rent—but only after making a genuine effort to contact the landlord and following all legal requirements.

If possible, try to contact the landlord in writing and by phone. Document your attempts. If your landlord disputes your emergency actions, the Rental Officer may decide if a rent deduction is allowed.

For more, visit Emergency Situations and Repairs: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

4. Health and Safety: Protecting Your Living Space

Your landlord must ensure the unit complies with Nunavut’s health, safety, and housing standards. Problems like pests, lack of heat, or persistent water leaks can affect your health.

Read more in Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.

5. How Long Should Repairs Take—and What If They Don’t?

Nunavut’s laws don’t set a strict number of days for repairs. However, repairs for essential services (like heat) must be completed as quickly as possible. If your repair request is unreasonably delayed, or ignored, you may:

• Send a follow-up written request
• Apply to the Rental Officer for help or orders (see above)
• Document everything in case of rental disputes

The Nunavut Rental Office is the official tribunal handling rental disputes. You can find resources and guidance on the Nunavut Rental Office website.

For more details on how landlord/tenant disputes are handled in Nunavut, visit Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nunavut.

Frequently Asked Questions about Maintenance & Repairs in Nunavut

1. Who pays for routine repairs in my rental?
   Landlords must cover most repairs related to normal wear and tear or systems in the building. Tenants are responsible for damage caused by themselves or visitors.
2. What counts as an emergency repair?
   Urgent issues like loss of heat during winter, sewage backup, or broken utilities are emergencies. Anything that threatens health or makes the unit unsafe may be treated as an emergency.
3. Can I withhold rent if my landlord doesn't fix something?
   No. Always pay rent on time. Use official channels (write to the landlord, then apply to the Rental Officer) instead of withholding rent, or you risk eviction proceedings.
4. How do I apply to the Nunavut Rental Office?
   Download Form 2 from the Rental Office page, complete the details, and submit it with supporting documents such as your written request, photos, and any correspondence with your landlord.
5. How can I find safe, healthy rental housing in Nunavut?
   Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme to browse safe and suitable listings in Nunavut and beyond.

How To: Request Repairs or File a Maintenance Complaint in Nunavut

1. How do I formally request a repair?
   Write a clear notice by email or letter, describing the issue and what needs fixing. Keep a record of your message.
2. What should I do if my landlord doesn’t fix the problem?
   Send a follow-up notice. If there is no reasonable response, complete Form 2: Application to Director with copies of all correspondence and file it with the Nunavut Rental Office.
3. How should I document problems?
   Take date-stamped photos, keep all communication, and note dates and times when issues occurred.
4. How can I show it was an emergency?
   Explain in writing why the situation was urgent (such as no heat at -30°C), what steps you took to contact the landlord, and include receipts if you arranged any repairs.

Key Takeaways

• Landlords have legal responsibilities to provide safe, habitable homes and complete repairs promptly.
• Always communicate repair issues promptly in writing, and keep records.
• For unresolved problems, Form 2 and the Nunavut Rental Office are your official avenues for help.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Nunavut Rental Office: Advice, forms, and dispute resolution
• Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act: Full legislation
• Local hamlet offices or public health for health and safety code violations
• Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nunavut: Overview of tenant and landlord rights

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1. Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act
2. Nunavut Rental Office
3. Nunavut Rental Office Forms Page

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