Ontario Assignment & Subletting Guide · Updated for 2026
Assignment and subletting are not the same thing. In an assignment, the tenant transfers the tenancy to another person. In a sublet, the original tenant temporarily gives another person the right to occupy the unit while remaining responsible to the landlord under the tenancy.
Assignment
Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, a tenant may assign a rental unit with the landlord’s consent. The landlord cannot arbitrarily or unreasonably refuse a proposed assignee after agreeing in principle to assignment. A landlord may generally recover only reasonable out-of-pocket expenses connected with giving consent.
Subletting
A tenant may sublet with the landlord’s consent. The original tenant remains responsible for the tenancy during the sublet. The subtenant’s right to occupy is normally for a period shorter than the remaining tenancy term.
What If Assignment Is Refused?
Ontario law can give a tenant a route to terminate the tenancy in certain assignment-refusal situations. The timing and facts matter, so tenants should use the current LTB guidance rather than assuming they can leave immediately.
Landlord Checklist
- Respond to assignment or sublet requests promptly.
- Use consistent, lawful screening criteria.
- Do not charge arbitrary administrative fees.
- Document consent or refusal in writing.
- Confirm whether the request is truly an assignment or a sublet.
Tenant Checklist
- Make the request in writing.
- Keep copies of the landlord’s response.
- Do not assume a roommate arrangement is the same as a formal sublet.
- Understand that a sublet does not usually release the original tenant from responsibility.
Official Resources
See the Residential Tenancies Act, including the assignment and subletting provisions, and our lease assignment guide.
FAQ
Does a landlord have to accept any proposed assignee?
No. A landlord can assess a proposed assignee, but cannot arbitrarily or unreasonably refuse consent in the circumstances covered by the Act.
Does a sublet end the original tenant’s responsibility?
No. The original tenant generally remains responsible to the landlord during the subtenancy.
Related Assignment & Move-Out Resources
- How to Break or Assign a Lease
- N11 Agreement to End a Tenancy
- Tenant Move-Out Notice Calculator
- Moving-Out Checklist
- Move-Out Condition Report
See more Ontario Tenant Resources and Rental Tools.
General information only: Assignment and sublet disputes can turn on timing and facts. Verify the current legislation and LTB guidance.