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In Ontario, a landlord generally cannot end a tenancy by changing the locks and refusing the tenant access. The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) requires landlords to follow the statutory termination and eviction process.
General information only: this is not legal advice. If someone is currently locked out of their home, the issue may require urgent assistance.
Can a landlord change the locks?
Section 24 of the RTA says a landlord must not alter the locking system on a door giving entry to a rental unit or residential complex during the tenant’s occupancy without giving the tenant replacement keys.
Changing locks for a legitimate security, repair or maintenance reason is therefore different from using a lock change to exclude the tenant. The critical issue is whether the tenant is still entitled to occupy the unit and was provided replacement access.
Can a landlord lock out a tenant for unpaid rent?
No. Rent arrears do not authorize a self-help eviction. A landlord must use the RTA process, which can include serving an N4, applying to the LTB where appropriate, obtaining an eviction order and, if enforcement is necessary, using the Court Enforcement Office (Sheriff).
See N4 Notice in Ontario: Non-Payment of Rent Explained.
Who physically enforces an eviction order?
A landlord does not personally enforce an LTB eviction order by removing the tenant or changing the locks first. If the tenant has not left by the enforceable date, the eviction is generally enforced through the Court Enforcement Office (Sheriff). After lawful enforcement and recovery of possession, changing the locks is a normal security step.
What can a tenant do after an apparent illegal lockout?
- Document the lockout. Record the date, time, photographs/video and any messages or notices.
- Contact the landlord or property manager in writing where safe and practical and request immediate access/replacement keys.
- Contact the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU). Ontario identifies changing locks without giving the tenant a new key as a rental-housing offence.
- Review the LTB Form T2. The T2 is the tenant-rights application used for claims including changing the locking system without replacement keys.
- Seek urgent legal advice from a community legal clinic or licensed legal professional if immediate possession, safety or property access is at issue.
The RHEU can be reached at 1-888-772-9277 and RHEU.info@ontario.ca, according to Ontario’s current dispute-resolution page.
What can the LTB order?
The T2 process allows a tenant to ask the Board to determine that the landlord changed the locks without replacement keys. Depending on the circumstances and remedies requested, the Board may make orders including compensation or other relief.
If the unit is still vacant, the T2 instructions provide a specific remedy under which the tenant may ask the LTB to order the landlord to allow the tenant to move back in and not rent the unit to someone else. Whether that remedy is available depends on the statutory conditions and facts.
Is there a time limit for a T2 lockout claim?
Section 29(2) of the RTA generally provides that a tenant application under that section cannot be made more than one year after the alleged conduct occurred. Tenants should not delay if they intend to pursue a claim.
Can the tenant change the locks?
Tenants are also subject to lock rules. Section 35 generally prohibits a tenant from altering the locking system during the tenancy without the landlord’s consent. If a tenant changes the locks without consent, the landlord can apply to the LTB and may seek an order requiring keys or reasonable out-of-pocket costs to restore access.
What if the landlord says the tenant abandoned the unit?
Abandonment is a separate legal issue. An unexplained absence does not automatically prove that a tenancy has ended. Landlords should carefully confirm the legal status before retaking possession or disposing of belongings. See Abandoned Belongings in Ontario Rentals.
What evidence should be kept?
- Lease or tenancy records
- Photographs/video of changed locks
- Messages requesting keys or access
- Landlord notices and LTB documents
- Any eviction order
- RHEU, police or other file numbers where applicable
- Receipts for reasonable expenses arising from the lockout
- Evidence showing whether the unit remained vacant or was re-rented
Frequently asked questions
Does an N4, N5 or N12 authorize a lock change?
No. A notice of termination is not an eviction order.
Can the landlord change locks while the tenant is at work?
Not as a way to exclude a tenant who still has a lawful right to occupy the unit. The time of day does not make a self-help lockout lawful.
Is changing locks without providing keys an offence?
Ontario lists changing the locks to a rental unit or building without giving the tenant a new key as a rental-housing offence, and section 233 of the RTA creates offences for knowingly contravening the lock provisions.
Official sources
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 — sections 24, 29, 35 and 233
- LTB Form T2 Instructions
- Ontario — Rental Housing Offences
- Ontario — Solve a Disagreement with Your Landlord or Tenant
Related: Ontario Tenant Resources · Ontario Landlord Resources · What to Expect at the LTB