Packages left in building lobbies or at doorways can disappear quickly. If you rent in Ontario, knowing immediate actions, how to document loss, and when to involve your landlord or the Landlord and Tenant Board helps protect your rights and recovery options. This guide explains practical steps tenants can take after a theft, preventative building security measures to request, and how official forms and police reports support claims with delivery companies or insurers. It uses plain language for renters and includes examples of evidence to collect, ways to ask landlords for safety upgrades, and how to seek help from provincial resources. Keep copies of communications and receipts so you have a clear record if you need to escalate the issue.
Who is responsible for building security in Ontario?
Landlords must keep common areas reasonably safe and secure under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 [2]. Tenants can ask landlords to fix locks, improve lighting, or install secure package areas; the landlord’s duties often include routine maintenance and security in lobbies, corridors, and entrances. If your lease or building rules say the landlord will provide certain security features, keep written requests and responses so you have evidence.
Immediate steps if a package is stolen
- Report the theft to police within 24 hours and obtain a police report number.
- Contact your landlord or superintendent in writing and request building security action and confirmation of any CCTV or package-room checks.
- Document all evidence: take photos of the delivery location, packaging, tracking pages, and note delivery times.
- File a claim with the delivery company and keep claim numbers and correspondence.
- Check insurance options such as renter’s insurance or credit card protections and save any claim references.
Security improvements tenants can request
Common and reasonable security upgrades include better exterior lighting, secure parcel lockers, key-fob access, or clearer CCTV coverage. Ask your landlord in writing and suggest practical fixes with examples and timeframes. You can reference tenant safety topics when making requests, and read more about typical hazards and health concerns in Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.
When to involve the Landlord and Tenant Board
If a landlord refuses to address clear security risks or has failed to maintain common areas, tenants may apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an order requiring repairs or remedies. The Board is the provincial tribunal that handles disputes in Ontario [1]. Applications commonly reference the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 [2] and use official forms available from the Board’s forms page [3]. For example, an application to end a tenancy for serious safety problems or to seek an order for repairs would use the Board’s application processes and specific form guidance.
If you are thinking about moving to a building with better delivery security, Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme to compare listings and amenities.
You may also wish to review landlord and tenant responsibilities in more detail: Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.
FAQ
- Can my landlord be held responsible if packages are stolen from common areas?
- It depends on whether the landlord failed to maintain reasonable security in common areas and whether that failure contributed to the loss. Document incidents, notify the landlord in writing, and consider applying to the Board if actions are not taken.
- What immediate evidence should I collect after a theft?
- Gather photos of the delivery spot, tracking details, delivery notices, CCTV timestamps if available, and any messages with the carrier or landlord.
- When should I contact the Landlord and Tenant Board?
- If the landlord refuses to fix a security problem or if repeated thefts occur and the landlord won’t act, you can file an application with the Board using the official forms and guidance.
How-To
- Report the theft to police within 24 hours and obtain a report number.
- Contact your landlord or superintendent in writing and request immediate security checks and any available CCTV review.
- Collect and save photos, tracking information, delivery notices, and any CCTV timestamps as evidence.
- File a claim with the delivery company and your insurer, and keep claim numbers and correspondence.
- If the landlord does not act, consider filing an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board using the Board’s forms and guidance.
Help and Support / Resources
- Contact the Landlord and Tenant Board for forms and hearings: see their website for how to apply.[1]
- Consult the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 for rules on landlord obligations and tenant rights.[2]
- Find official forms and guides for applications on the Landlord and Tenant Board forms page.[3]
