Ontario Home Intel
Menu

Category: Tenants

Ontario tenant guides covering leases, rent, deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices, ending a tenancy and Landlord and Tenant Board processes.

  • Can My Landlord Make Me Pay Utilities That Aren’t in the Lease?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #38

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: Generally, a landlord cannot simply announce that a tenant must begin paying a utility that was included in the tenancy. The lease, advertising, established practice and lawful rent all help determine who is responsible. A voluntary change should be documented and may require an appropriate rent adjustment.

    The RTA restricts unilateral changes to lawful rent and services. Withholding or deliberately interfering with vital services can also violate section 21 where the landlord is obligated to supply them.

    Utility responsibility can be changed by a genuine agreement in some situations, but parties should understand metering, allocation, rent consequences and consumer-protection requirements before signing.

    What if the written lease is silent?

    Silence does not automatically answer the question. Advertisements, prior bills, payment history, representations and which party holds the account can help establish the tenancy terms.

    Can the landlord split one bill among units?

    Shared-meter allocation can raise accuracy and compliance issues. The method, required information and applicable regulations should be checked rather than improvised.

    What if the tenant agrees?

    Any agreement should clearly state the start date, accounts, meter, allocation and rent change. A pressured or unclear signature may not resolve a dispute.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Collect the lease, listing, bills and payment history.
    • Ask for the legal basis and calculation before paying a new charge.
    • Do not let a disputed utility replace payment of the undisputed lawful rent.
    • Seek advice before signing a utility-transfer agreement.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Confirm the existing tenancy terms before changing billing.
    • Do not shut off service or use a utility dispute as self-help enforcement.
    • Use clear written agreements and any required rent adjustment.
    • Provide accurate bills and allocation information.

    Example

    Hydro has been included in rent for three years. The landlord cannot normally start forwarding the entire bill next month without a lawful agreement and any required adjustment.

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Ban Window or Portable Air Conditioners in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #36

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: It depends. Ontario’s RTA does not create one universal right to install every air conditioner. A landlord may enforce reasonable safety, installation or building rules, but an absolute ban can require closer review—especially where heat creates a disability-related accommodation need.

    The tenancy agreement, electricity arrangement, building design, municipal standards and human-rights obligations can all matter. A rule should address a genuine concern such as unsafe window installation, electrical capacity, drainage or included utility costs rather than operate as an arbitrary penalty.

    A tenant should not permanently alter a window, wall or electrical system without appropriate permission and qualified work.

    Can the landlord charge an extra seasonal fee?

    A fee is not automatically lawful because an appliance increases electricity use. Whether an agreed charge is permitted depends on the lease, utility responsibility and RTA rules. It should not be imposed unilaterally without a lawful basis.

    What about safety rules?

    Requirements for secure installation, drainage, electrical load and qualified installers can be reasonable. The safest workable alternative—such as a portable unit—should be considered.

    What if the tenant has a medical need?

    The Ontario Human Rights Code may require individualized accommodation to the point of undue hardship. The parties should exchange only information reasonably needed to understand the functional need and possible solutions.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Check the lease and request written installation requirements.
    • Use an appropriate outlet and secure, non-damaging installation.
    • Raise disability-related needs in writing where applicable.
    • Keep records of indoor temperatures and communications during extreme heat.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Base restrictions on documented safety, capacity or property concerns.
    • Offer workable installation standards rather than relying on a vague ban.
    • Consider human-rights accommodation individually.
    • Clarify utility-cost arrangements before the cooling season.

    Example

    A landlord prohibits an unsecured window unit that could fall over a public walkway but permits a safely installed portable unit. That is more defensible than an unexplained ban during dangerous heat.

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Install Security Cameras at My Rental in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #35

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: Possibly in common or exterior areas for a legitimate purpose, but not as unrestricted surveillance. A landlord should not install a camera inside a tenant’s rental unit or point it into spaces where tenants reasonably expect privacy. Purpose, notice, field of view, data security and audio recording all matter.

    The RTA protects reasonable enjoyment and prohibits harassment. Privacy obligations may also apply depending on the landlord and how personal information is collected, used and disclosed. Cameras should be necessary, proportionate and limited to a defined security purpose.

    Audio recording creates additional legal risk. A video-security system should not collect conversations merely because the technology allows it.

    Where are cameras most defensible?

    Entrances, parking areas and common hallways may support a genuine security purpose when views are limited. Bathrooms, change areas, the inside of units and views into private windows are fundamentally different.

    Does the landlord need to give notice?

    Clear notice supports transparency but does not cure an otherwise excessive installation. Tenants should be told what is collected, why, who can access it and how long it is retained.

    Can footage be posted online?

    Using footage for a new purpose, including public posting, can create serious privacy and safety concerns. Access and disclosure should be tightly controlled.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Ask for the camera’s purpose, field of view, audio status and retention policy.
    • Document cameras that appear to target private areas or individual tenants.
    • Avoid blocking or damaging equipment; raise concerns in writing.
    • Seek privacy or legal advice where surveillance appears intrusive or retaliatory.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Use the least intrusive system that meets a documented need.
    • Avoid audio and mask private windows, doors or exclusive-use areas where appropriate.
    • Post clear notice and restrict access and retention.
    • Do not use surveillance to harass tenants or monitor lawful private activity.

    Example

    A visible camera covers a building entrance and stores silent footage briefly for security incidents. That is different from a hidden camera aimed through a tenant’s window or recording conversations.

    Official sources

  • Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Surveillance

    • Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Charge Me a Cleaning Fee in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #34

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: A landlord generally cannot impose an automatic cleaning fee, non-refundable cleaning deposit or penalty merely because a tenancy ends. Tenants must maintain ordinary cleanliness, and a landlord may pursue proven costs caused by undue damage or a serious cleanliness breach through the proper process.

    Section 33 of the RTA makes tenants responsible for ordinary cleanliness. Section 34 addresses undue damage caused wilfully or negligently by the tenant or their guests. Section 134 restricts unauthorized fees.

    The landlord should distinguish ordinary turnover work and normal wear from extraordinary cleaning caused by the tenant. A pre-set fee does not eliminate the need to prove responsibility and reasonable cost.

    Does the unit need to be professionally cleaned?

    The RTA uses an ordinary-cleanliness standard, not a universal professional-cleaning standard. A lease clause cannot automatically turn routine turnover cleaning into a fixed debt.

    Can cleaning be deducted from last month’s rent?

    The rent deposit is for the last rent period, not a general security fund. Disputed cleaning costs should be addressed separately.

    What evidence matters?

    Move-in and move-out photographs, inspection notes, dated communications, invoices and evidence of the prior condition help distinguish ordinary use from an exceptional cleaning claim.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Leave the unit ordinarily clean and remove belongings and garbage.
    • Photograph each room at move-out and keep key-return records.
    • Ask for an itemized invoice and evidence for any claimed charge.
    • Do not assume a demanded fee can lawfully be taken from the rent deposit.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Document the unit’s condition at both ends of the tenancy.
    • Separate normal turnover costs from tenant-caused conditions.
    • Use reasonable actual costs rather than an automatic penalty.
    • Use the appropriate LTB process for an unresolved claim.

    Example

    Vacuuming and ordinary turnover cleaning are generally landlord business costs. Removing extensive abandoned garbage or remediating tenant-caused contamination may support a documented claim.

    Related OHI guides and tools

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Require Post-Dated Cheques in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #31

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: No. An Ontario landlord generally cannot require a tenant to provide post-dated cheques or agree to automatic debit as a condition of the tenancy. The parties can voluntarily agree to either method, but the tenant must have a meaningful choice.

    Section 108 of the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) prohibits a landlord from requiring post-dated cheques or automatic debit for rent. Ontario’s standard lease reflects this rule.

    The parties may agree on another method, including e-transfer, ordinary cheque or cash. Once a payment method has been agreed to, neither side should assume it can be changed unilaterally without considering the agreement and circumstances.

    Can the tenant voluntarily provide them?

    Yes. A voluntary arrangement is different from a requirement. The tenant can offer post-dated cheques for convenience, and both sides should record how they can be replaced or cancelled.

    Can a landlord refuse cash or e-transfer?

    The RTA does not prescribe one universal rent-payment method. The lease and established practice matter. Any method should allow reliable payment and receipts where required.

    What if a cheque is returned?

    A failed payment can create rent arrears. Permitted NSF-related charges are different from an arbitrary late fee and must remain within Ontario’s rules.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Do not hand over post-dated cheques merely because an application says they are mandatory.
    • Ask for the accepted alternatives in writing.
    • Keep proof of every payment and request receipts where needed.
    • Document any pressure or threatened penalty connected to refusing automatic payment.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Offer at least one lawful payment option that does not require post-dated cheques or automatic debit.
    • Record the agreed method in the standard lease.
    • Keep payment records and issue receipts as required.
    • Do not confuse a convenient voluntary method with a mandatory condition.

    Example

    A landlord offers e-transfer, ordinary cheque or voluntary post-dated cheques. That provides choice. Saying the keys will not be released unless twelve post-dated cheques are delivered is different.

    Related OHI guides and tools

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Charge a Rental Application Fee in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #33

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: Generally, a landlord should not charge a prospective tenant a non-refundable application, processing or screening fee simply to apply for a rental. Ontario tightly restricts the money landlords may collect in connection with a tenancy.

    Section 134 of the RTA generally prohibits landlords from collecting or attempting to collect unauthorized fees, premiums, commissions, bonuses or penalties. The permitted rent deposit and refundable key deposit follow separate rules.

    A payment does not become lawful merely because it is labelled an “application fee,” “administration charge” or “credit-check fee.” Its real purpose and whether it is refundable matter.

    What can a landlord collect before move-in?

    A landlord may generally request a rent deposit up to one rent period, commonly last month’s rent, once the tenancy is being entered into. A refundable key deposit may also be permitted within replacement-cost limits.

    Can an outside screening company charge the applicant?

    Third-party products vary. Landlords and applicants should examine who requires the purchase, what is provided and whether the arrangement is effectively an indirect landlord fee. Editorial or affiliate services should never be represented as legally mandatory.

    What if the fee is promised back?

    A refundable holding payment can still create disputes about whether a tenancy was formed and when money must be returned. Terms should be clear and documented before payment.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Ask whether any payment is refundable and what it will be applied to.
    • Get the property, landlord and payment terms in writing before sending money.
    • Keep receipts, advertisements and application messages.
    • Be cautious of urgent transfers or fees before viewing and verifying the rental.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Do not charge applicants simply for the privilege of applying.
    • Use lawful, consistent screening and absorb ordinary business costs.
    • Document permitted deposits accurately and issue receipts.
    • Avoid labels that disguise an unauthorized fee.

    Example

    A landlord requires every applicant to pay a non-refundable $75 processing fee. That is different from accepting a lawful last-month rent deposit after agreeing to the tenancy.

    Related OHI guides and tools

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Ask for My Social Insurance Number in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question #32

    Browse the complete “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: A landlord may ask, but a rental applicant is not generally required by tenancy law to provide a Social Insurance Number (SIN). A SIN is highly sensitive and is usually unnecessary for identity verification. Refusing to provide it does not prevent a landlord from using other lawful screening information.

    Rental screening must comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code and applicable privacy obligations. The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada advises organizations to limit SIN collection because the SIN is designed for specific income-reporting purposes and can create identity-theft risks.

    A credit check should be based on informed consent. Applicants can ask why information is needed, how it will be protected, who will receive it and when it will be destroyed.

    Is a SIN required for a credit check?

    Credit bureaus can often locate a file using name, date of birth and address history. A SIN can improve matching accuracy, but that does not automatically make it necessary or mandatory.

    Can refusing a SIN lead to rejection?

    A landlord may assess an incomplete application using lawful, consistent criteria, but should not represent the SIN as legally required. Human-rights protections continue to apply to screening decisions.

    How should sensitive information be handled?

    Landlords should collect the minimum necessary information, secure it, restrict access and dispose of it safely when no longer needed.

    What should a tenant do?

    • Ask whether a credit check can be completed without a SIN.
    • Verify the landlord or property manager before sharing sensitive documents.
    • Redact unnecessary identifiers and use secure delivery methods.
    • Keep the consent language and privacy explanation provided with the application.

    What should a landlord do?

    • Collect only information reasonably needed for a lawful screening purpose.
    • Explain the purpose, consent, storage and retention practices.
    • Use consistent criteria that comply with human-rights law.
    • Avoid keeping copies of unnecessary identity documents or SIN information.

    Example

    An applicant provides consent for a credit check using their name, birth date and address history. The landlord completes screening without collecting the SIN. That is a lower-risk approach than treating a SIN as mandatory.

    Related OHI guides and tools

    Official sources

  • Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada: Social Insurance Numbers

    • Continue the series

    Browse more Ontario rental questions and answers.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Tenant Refuse to Leave When I Sell the Property?

    OHI | Can My Tenant? · Ontario rental question #29

    Browse the full “Can My Landlord / Can My Tenant?” series

    Last verified: September 15, 2026

    Quick answer: Yes, a tenant can remain unless the tenancy is lawfully ended. Selling the property does not automatically terminate an Ontario tenancy, and a sale agreement or request from the owner is not an eviction order. In qualifying circumstances, a purchaser-own-use N12 process may be available, but all requirements must be met.

    Ontario tenancies generally continue when ownership changes. A purchaser may require vacant possession for genuine residential occupation by a qualifying person, but the landlord must use the correct N12 process and comply with timing, compensation and other statutory requirements.

    The tenant does not have to leave merely because the property is listed, sold conditionally or has a closing date. Only the LTB can issue an eviction order, and enforcement follows the authorized process.

    Can vacant possession be promised in the sale agreement?

    A seller should not assume they can guarantee vacancy where a tenant has not agreed to leave and no enforceable order exists. The real-estate agreement does not override the RTA.

    What if the purchaser wants to move in?

    A purchaser-own-use notice may be possible for certain properties and qualifying occupants after the statutory conditions are satisfied. Good faith, the correct termination date, required compensation and supporting materials all matter.

    Can the tenant challenge the notice?

    Yes. A tenant may remain until the LTB determines the application and may present evidence about defects or bad faith. A notice is not proof that eviction will be ordered.

    What should the tenant do?

    • Do not treat a listing, sale or text request as an eviction order.
    • Read any N12 and attached materials carefully and obtain advice promptly.
    • Keep records of statements about the purchaser’s plans and any pressure to sign an N11.
    • Cooperate with lawful showings while documenting improper entry or harassment.

    What should the landlord do?

    • Plan the sale around the tenancy rather than promising automatic vacancy.
    • Use the current N12 and comply with all compensation and evidence requirements.
    • Keep purchaser-use representations accurate and documented.
    • Do not use lockouts, utility interruptions or harassment to obtain possession.

    Example

    A buyer signs an agreement to purchase a single-family rental and genuinely plans to occupy it. A purchaser-use process may be available, but the tenant may lawfully remain through notice and LTB proceedings. The sale alone does not end the tenancy.

    Related OHI guides and tools

    Official sources

    Continue the series

    Browse more plain-language answers to common Ontario rental questions.

    General information only: This article discusses Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Outcomes depend on the facts and evidence. Rules and forms can change; verify current information with Tribunals Ontario or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Ask for Several Months’ Rent Up Front in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question

    Browse the full “Can My Landlord?” series

    Last verified: September 12, 2026

    Quick answer: A landlord generally cannot require several months of prepaid rent as a condition of granting or continuing an RTA-covered tenancy. A genuinely voluntary offer by a tenant to prepay rent can be treated differently, but the distinction is highly fact-specific.

    What can a landlord require at the start?

    A landlord may collect the first rent payment when due and a rent deposit for the last rental period. The deposit cannot exceed one month’s rent or one rental period, whichever is less. A landlord should not disguise additional security as “prepaid rent.”

    Required payment versus voluntary offer

    The central question is who initiated and required the arrangement. Ontario case law has recognized that a tenant may voluntarily offer advance rent, but that does not give landlords permission to demand six or twelve months from every applicant.

    Warning signs include an advertisement stating that multiple months are mandatory, a landlord refusing to consider an otherwise acceptable application without the payment, or paperwork describing the money as security against default or damage.

    Why documentation matters

    If advance rent is genuinely offered, the agreement should clearly identify each rental period covered and how the money will be credited. Both sides should keep receipts and avoid language suggesting the money is a refundable damage deposit.

    Human-rights and screening concerns

    Landlords must follow the Ontario Human Rights Code in tenant selection. Requiring large advance payments from applicants based on prohibited personal characteristics can create additional legal risk.

    What tenants should do before paying

    • Confirm the landlord and property are legitimate.
    • Ask in writing whether the payment is required or optional.
    • Get a signed lease and detailed receipt.
    • Record the months the payment covers.
    • Obtain legal advice before transferring a large sum.

    What landlords should do

    • Do not advertise several months’ rent as a mandatory deposit.
    • Use lawful screening criteria consistently.
    • Document any tenant-initiated offer accurately.
    • Credit prepaid amounts to the correct rental periods.

    OHI guides

    Frequently asked questions

    Can a tenant offer six months to strengthen an application?

    Possibly, if the offer is genuinely voluntary. Because the legal result depends on how the arrangement arose and was documented, both sides should obtain advice before proceeding.

    Can the landlord call it a deposit?

    Calling additional money a deposit can reinforce that it is being required as security. Ontario restricts the deposits a landlord may demand.

    Official Ontario sources

    Relevant Ontario case law includes Corvers v. Bumbia, an Ontario Divisional Court decision concerning voluntary prepaid rent.

    General information only: This article concerns Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Verify current rules with official Ontario sources or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.

  • Can My Landlord Ban Pets in Ontario?

    OHI | Can My Landlord? · Ontario rental question

    Browse the full “Can My Landlord?” series

    Last verified: September 12, 2026

    Quick answer: A “no pets” clause in an Ontario residential tenancy agreement is generally void. That does not mean every animal is permitted in every situation or that pet-related conduct has no consequences.

    What does the RTA say?

    Section 14 of the Residential Tenancies Act says a tenancy-agreement provision prohibiting animals in or around the residential complex is void. A landlord generally cannot rely only on a standard no-pets sentence in the lease to evict a tenant.

    Can a landlord refuse an applicant because of a pet?

    The rule voiding a lease clause is not the same as a general duty to approve every prospective tenant with an animal. Human-rights obligations may arise when the animal relates to a disability. Screening decisions should be made carefully and without discrimination.

    When can a pet still create an eviction issue?

    A landlord may apply to the LTB where the animal causes a serious problem recognized by the RTA—for example, substantial interference with reasonable enjoyment, serious allergic reaction, undue damage or dangerous conduct. The evidence and circumstances matter; the presence of the pet alone is not enough.

    What about condominiums?

    Condominium declarations, bylaws and rules may restrict the type, number or size of pets. Tenants in a condo generally must comply with valid condominium rules, so a pet that is permitted under the lease may still conflict with the condominium’s governing documents.

    What should tenants do?

    • Review condo rules before moving in.
    • Keep the animal licensed and under control where required.
    • Address noise, waste, damage or safety concerns promptly.
    • Document disability-related accommodation needs when relevant.

    What should landlords do?

    • Avoid treating a void no-pets clause as an automatic eviction right.
    • Document the actual behaviour or impact creating concern.
    • Consider human-rights accommodation duties.
    • Use the correct LTB process rather than removing the animal or tenant personally.

    Read the full OHI guide

    Frequently asked questions

    Can a landlord charge a pet deposit?

    A separate pet or damage deposit is generally not permitted. See OHI’s rental-deposits guide.

    Does “no pets” apply to a service animal?

    Disability-related animals can engage Ontario Human Rights Code accommodation duties. The analysis is fact-specific.

    Official Ontario sources

    General information only: This article concerns Ontario residential tenancies and is not legal advice. Some rentals are exempt from all or part of the RTA. Verify current rules with official Ontario sources or obtain advice from a licensed Ontario legal professional.