If you’re renting a home or apartment in Ontario, knowing what your landlord can and cannot do is key to protecting your rights. This guide explains the main rules and boundaries set out by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and what you can do if you believe your landlord has overstepped. We’ll cover your protections, landlord responsibilities, and what action you can take for common situations.

Who Oversees Landlord and Tenant Issues in Ontario?

In Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal responsible for resolving disputes, enforcing rules, and guiding the application of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.^[1]

Summary of What Landlords Are Allowed and Not Allowed to Do

Landlords in Ontario have specific powers, but these powers are limited by law. Understanding where the lines are drawn will help you assert your rights and maintain a respectful landlord-tenant relationship.

What Landlords Can Do

• Collect rent as agreed in your lease
• Raise rent, but only within strict provincial guidelines and rules
• Enter your unit for lawful reasons (with proper notice and timing)
• Serve you with legal notices (e.g., for late payment, end of tenancy)
• Make routine, emergency, or requested repairs
• Provide you written notice before increasing rent or ending the tenancy

Tenants also have responsibilities. For an overview of obligations for both parties, see Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

What Landlords Cannot Do

• Enter your home without proper written notice (usually 24 hours)
• Evict you without following due legal process
• Shut off vital services (such as heat or water) for any reason
• Change the locks without giving you a new key or following LTB procedure
• Increase rent outside annual guideline limits unless approved by the LTB
• Demand extra deposits (beyond first/last month’s rent)
• Withhold repairs to force you to move or punish you for complaints

Common Areas Landlords Must Respect

Rent Collection and Increases

Landlords can only increase your rent once every 12 months and must provide at least 90 days’ written notice, using the proper form. The amount of increase is capped each year by the province. Learn more about your responsibilities with Tenant's Guide to Paying Rent: Rights, Responsibilities, and Tips.

Deposits and Fees

Landlords may only collect a rent deposit (usually for last month's rent) and cannot require extra deposits for keys, pets (except in some condos), or damage.^[2] Read more at Understanding Rental Deposits: What Tenants Need to Know.

Entry to Your Rental Unit

• Your landlord must give you at least 24 hours' written notice stating the reason, date, and time (between 8am and 8pm)
• No notice is needed only in true emergencies
• Entry is only allowed for approved purposes, like repairs, showing the unit, or inspecting for maintenance

Maintenance and Repairs

Your landlord must keep the home in a safe, good state of repair, and comply with Ontario’s health, safety, and housing standards at all times. If your landlord fails in these duties, you can apply to the LTB.

For tips on how to handle urgent issues, see Emergency Situations and Repairs: Tenant Rights and Responsibilities.

Eviction Protections

Your landlord cannot evict you on their own. They must:

• Give you proper written notice using LTB-approved forms, such as a Notice to End your Tenancy (Form N4 for non-payment of rent or N5 for other reasons)
• Let you respond or fix the problem (for example, paying overdue rent)
• Apply to the LTB for an eviction order if the issue isn’t resolved

Tip: Most notices do not mean immediate eviction—a hearing must be held at the Landlord and Tenant Board and you will have a chance to tell your side.

Key Official Forms for Ontario Tenants

• Form N4 – Notice to End your Tenancy Early for Non-Payment of Rent
  Used if you fall behind on rent. You have at least 14 days to pay or move out. If you pay within this window, the notice is cancelled.
  Get Form N4 from the LTB
• Form N5 – Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage, or Overcrowding
  Used for specific other reasons. You have the right to correct the issue.
  View Form N5 details
• Form T2 – Application about Tenant Rights
  Tenants use this to complain about their landlord breaching their rights (e.g., illegal entry, withheld repairs).
  Find Form T2 here
• Form T6 – Tenant Application about Maintenance
  If your landlord isn’t making required repairs, T6 lets you ask the LTB for help.
  Find Form T6 here

Always use the most recent version of these forms from the LTB official site.

How to Take Action If Your Landlord Breaks the Rules

1. Document every incident (dates, times, communication, photos if applicable)
2. Communicate your concerns in writing to your landlord first
3. If the issue continues, file the relevant application form (such as T2 or T6) with the LTB
4. Attend your scheduled hearing—bring your evidence

This process gives you a clear, legal way to protect your rights as an Ontario tenant.

Your Legal Resources and Next Steps

You can learn more about your overall protections by reading Tenant Rights in Ontario.

Want to explore your rental options, or need to move? Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme and discover a wide variety of listings in Ontario and beyond.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my landlord enter my unit whenever they want?
   No, except in a legitimate emergency. Otherwise, landlords must give at least 24 hours’ written notice with a valid reason, and can only enter between 8am and 8pm.
2. Can my landlord raise my rent by any amount?
   No. Ontario sets rent increase limits each year, and your landlord must give you at least 90 days’ written notice. Increases outside the guideline must get LTB approval.
3. What are my options if my landlord refuses to fix something?
   Try to resolve the issue in writing, and if they still refuse, complete and submit Form T6 (Tenant Application about Maintenance) to the LTB to ask for repairs or compensation.
4. Is my landlord allowed to change my locks?
   Only if they provide you with the new keys. It’s illegal for a landlord to lock you out of your home.
5. What is the role of the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)?
   The LTB resolves disputes, handles applications, and makes legally binding decisions for both landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.

Key Takeaways

• Landlords in Ontario have specific rights but must always follow the law and respect your privacy, safety, and dignity as a tenant.
• If you experience problems, follow the documented process available through the Landlord and Tenant Board using official forms.
• Stay informed so you can protect your rights and maintain a positive rental experience.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) – Official forms, applications, and dispute resolution
• Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing – Government guidance and tenant resources
• Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) – Free legal information for low-income tenants
• 211 Ontario – Find local tenant help lines and legal clinics

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1. Ontario: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (current link)
2. Landlord and Tenant Board: https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/

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