Ontario Rental Navigator
Not sure which Ontario rental rule applies? Start with what’s happening. The Navigator helps you narrow the situation, identify facts that may change the answer, and find the most relevant OHI guidance and official Ontario sources.
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Next steps, guides & sources
Ontario-specific · Plain-language guidance · Official sources included · Reviewed when material rental rules or LTB procedures change
Search your rental situation
Type a few words such as late rent, landlord entry, pet, damage or selling. Search filters the Navigator scenarios below; the normal browse options still work.
1. Who are you?
Choose your side of the rental situation.
2. What’s happening?
Select your side above, then open the situation closest to yours. Each result gives a general direction—not a case-specific legal conclusion.
What do you need help with?
Choose a topic. The Navigator will narrow the situation and show the most relevant general Ontario information.
Tenant pathways
Landlord entry navigator
Why does the landlord want to enter?
There is an emergency
Section 26 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act allows entry without written notice in an emergency.
I am agreeing to let them in now
A landlord may enter without written notice if the tenant consents to the entry at the time of entry.
Repairs, work or an inspection
- Is the reason a repair, work, or a reasonable inspection?
- Was written notice given at least 24 hours before entry?
- Does the notice state the reason, date and a time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.?
- Is there an emergency or did the tenant consent at the time of entry? Those situations can follow different rules.
For repairs, work, or a reasonable maintenance inspection, the landlord generally needs at least 24 hours’ written notice. The notice must state the reason, date and a time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Showing the unit to a potential purchaser
For a potential purchaser viewing, section 27 generally requires at least 24 hours’ written notice and entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. An authorized registered broker or salesperson may enter for this purpose.
Showing the unit to a potential new tenant
If the tenancy has been agreed to end or a notice of termination has been given, written 24-hour notice is not required to show the unit to prospective tenants, but entry must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and the landlord must inform or make a reasonable effort to inform the tenant beforehand.
Another reason / I’m not sure
Landlord entry is limited to circumstances permitted by sections 26 and 27. Other reasonable reasons may qualify if they are specified in the tenancy agreement and the applicable notice requirements are followed.
Read the OHI entry guideVerify in the RTA
More situations and less common questions
We use email. Does that make an emailed termination notice valid?
The permitted method depends on the document and the applicable rules. Email service generally requires written consent from the recipient, unless the LTB authorizes another route. Written consent can be revoked by written notice. Routine emails alone should not be treated as proof that every formal document can be served that way.
What document is being served? Is there written consent, has it been revoked, or is there an LTB service direction? Check the current rules and delivery timing.
Does permission to enter let my landlord photograph my belongings?
Where federal private-sector privacy law applies, photographing an occupied rental and its contents can collect personal information. The landlord generally must explain the purpose and obtain consent, with limited legal exceptions. Permission or lawful notice to enter should not be treated as blanket permission to photograph or publish personal information.
Is this a commercial rental activity covered by privacy law? What will be photographed, why, and who will receive or see the images?
Additional rental situations
Can I insist that the landlord only enter when I am home?
When the RTA’s entry requirements are met, a landlord may enter while the tenant is absent. A tenant may stay during entry but cannot refuse solely because the time is inconvenient.
Check the permitted reason, notice, date and time. Discuss reasonable arrangements without treating consent as always necessary.
Is an entry notice saying anytime from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. enough?
The notice must specify a time within the permitted hours. A reasonable window may sometimes be necessary, but an entire day is not automatically sufficient. The work and the landlord’s control over timing matter.
Assess the reason and practical scheduling limits rather than treating all 8-to-8 notices as valid.
Can repeated inspections be unreasonable even with 24 hours’ notice?
Landlords should limit entries to those reasonably necessary. Unnecessary or unreasonable repeated inspections may interfere with enjoyment or amount to harassment even where notices were sent.
Keep a dated entry log with reasons, notices and the effect on use of the unit.
Quick answer: My landlord wants to enter without permission
Ontario law limits when a landlord may enter. Emergencies and consent are exceptions; many other entries require proper written notice and a permitted reason.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy landlord never returned the signed lease. What should I do?
RTA section 12 requires the signed agreement copy within 21 days after the tenant signs and gives it to the landlord. The agreement must include the landlord’s legal name and address for notices.
Request missing documents in writing. Section 12 can suspend rent obligations until compliance, but withheld rent becomes payable once the landlord complies. Get advice before withholding; this differs from the standard-lease request rules.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
signed copy air conditioning lease rent tenancyI missed one payment. Is the entire year’s rent immediately due?
RTA section 15 makes an acceleration clause void: default cannot automatically make the remaining term’s rent or a specified default sum due. This does not erase rent already owing.
Separate existing arrears from future rent. Use the lawful arrears process and current forms rather than the acceleration clause.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
accelerated rent air conditioning lease rent tenancyCan an air-conditioner electricity charge continue all winter?
For qualifying units installed on or after July 1, 2026 with electricity included, a seasonal charge is capped at actual electricity cost or a reasonable usage-based estimate. A lease promising no increase prevents the charge. Remove the full increase when use stops; ordinary 90-day and 12-month increase rules do not apply.
Document installation date, usage periods and calculations. The tenant should notify the landlord in writing when use stops. Disputed excess payments may be raised through a T1 application.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
ac seasonal air conditioning lease rent tenancyRent increase navigator
- Has at least 12 months passed since the tenancy began or the tenant’s last rent increase?
- Was at least 90 days’ written notice given using the applicable LTB-approved form?
- Is the unit subject to the annual rent-increase guideline, or might an exemption/other authorized route apply?
Your answers determine which scenario below is most relevant.
Which situation applies?
It has been less than 12 months since I moved in or my last increase
A lawful rent increase generally cannot take effect until at least 12 months have passed since the tenancy began or the tenant’s last rent increase.
I received less than 90 days’ written notice
A landlord generally must give at least 90 days’ written notice of a rent increase using the applicable Board-approved form.
The increase is above the annual guideline
For rent-controlled units, an increase above the guideline generally requires a permitted statutory route, such as an above-guideline increase order or another authorized agreement. Some units are exempt from the guideline, so the unit’s rent-control status matters.
I’m not sure whether my unit is rent controlled
Do not assume the guideline applies to every Ontario rental. Check the statutory exemption rules and the unit’s occupancy history before relying on the guideline limit.
Read the OHI rent guideVerify in the RTA
More situations and less common questions
My landlord never provided Ontario’s standard lease. Can I withhold rent?
If the tenancy is one that requires Ontario’s standard lease, the tenant can request it in writing. If it is not provided within 21 calendar days, the tenant may withhold one month’s rent, not keep withholding additional months. If the landlord provides it within 30 calendar days after that rent was withheld, the tenant must repay the withheld rent. Otherwise the tenant may keep that one month’s rent. Separate early-termination rules may also apply.
Is the standard lease required for this tenancy? Keep the written request and delivery dates, and verify the conditions before withholding any rent.
I moved out months ago. Can I still request free rent receipts?
A landlord must provide a receipt on request for rent, a rent deposit or other amounts paid to the landlord. A former tenant can request receipts within 12 months after the tenancy ended. The landlord cannot charge a receipt fee.
Was the request made by a current tenant or within 12 months after the tenancy ended? Identify the payments and dates for which receipts are needed.
Can my landlord require automatic withdrawals or postdated cheques?
A landlord and tenant may agree to postdated cheques or automatic payments, but a landlord cannot require those payment methods. This differs from choosing a mutually agreed way to pay rent.
Was the method voluntarily agreed to, or imposed as a condition? Keep the lease and communications about payment.
Can my landlord change our agreed rent payment method without consent?
Once landlord and tenant agree on a method of paying rent, it generally cannot be changed unless both agree. Discuss a workable alternative and keep a written record of any agreement; a payment-method dispute does not automatically erase the rent owed.
What method was agreed to? Is either side proposing a change, and has the other side agreed?
Can my landlord add me to a private bad-tenant blacklist?
Federal privacy guidance says landlords do not have the right to disclose information such as a poor payment history to an unregulated or ad hoc bad-tenant list. Reporting through legitimate, regulated mechanisms can involve different rules. Do not assume an online group is a lawful credit-reporting service.
What information would be disclosed, to whom, for what purpose, and through what legally authorized process?
Additional rental situations
I never signed a lease. Can I still have tenant rights?
A tenancy can be oral or implied. Not signing a lease does not automatically remove RTA protection. Most new private tenancies still require the standard lease; the actual rental arrangement and any exemption matter.
Keep payment records, messages, the agreed move-in date and the rental terms.
My rent cheque bounced. Can I be charged a large NSF fee?
For an NSF rent cheque, recoverable charges can include the financial institution’s charge to the landlord and an administration charge capped at $20 per cheque. That is not permission to add an arbitrary penalty.
Keep the bank charge evidence and distinguish cheque charges from rent or other fees.
Can my landlord add a daily penalty or interest for late rent?
A private lease cannot impose fees or interest on rent arrears that the RTA prohibits. Permitted NSF cheque charges are a separate issue. Rent-collection and termination processes do not create a right to invent late penalties.
Separate lawful rent, permitted charges and any claimed penalty in the ledger.
My included parking or storage was removed. Can I seek a rent reduction?
A reduced or discontinued service or facility can support a T3 rent-reduction application. Check whether parking, storage or another benefit formed part of the tenancy, how it changed and the applicable deadlines.
Keep the agreement, advertisements and dates; do not choose a rent deduction without an agreement or lawful order.
The property’s municipal taxes decreased. Could my rent be reduced?
A decrease in municipal taxes and charges can support a T3 application by a current tenant. Calculation, timing and any automatic-reduction rules matter; it is not a dollar-for-dollar refund of the owner’s tax savings.
Check municipal notices, the relevant tax years and current T3 instructions before changing rent.
My rent discount ended. Is that automatically an illegal rent increase?
Ending a valid rent discount can differ from increasing lawful rent. Not every advertised discount meets the statutory rules. The lease, payment history and prescribed discount conditions determine the result.
Keep the original offer and discount terms; do not assume the higher advertised figure is automatically lawful.
Quick answer: My landlord wants to increase my rent
Rent increases are subject to notice, timing and applicable rent-control rules. The answer can depend on the unit and the type of increase.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTADeposit & fee navigator
- Is the payment for last month’s rent, keys, damage/security, cleaning, an application, or something else?
- Is it refundable, and if so, under what stated conditions?
- Was the payment required as a condition of getting or keeping the tenancy?
The legal treatment can depend on what the payment is actually for, not just what it is called.
What is being requested?
A damage or security deposit
The RTA limits security deposits. A landlord generally cannot collect a separate deposit to secure against possible damage.
Last month’s rent deposit
A rent deposit may be required, but it is governed by specific rules including limits on its amount and how it is used.
A key deposit
Key deposits are subject to separate rules. Use the dedicated OHI key-deposit guide to check the amount and purpose.
Read the OHI deposit guideVerify in the RTA
More situations and less common questions
Does my last-month rent deposit earn interest?
The landlord generally owes annual interest on the rent deposit at the applicable rent-increase guideline rate. The RTA also allows interest to be applied toward a permitted deposit top-up. Interest, a top-up and use of the deposit for the final rental period are separate accounting questions.
What deposit is held, what period is covered, and has any interest already been paid or credited toward a lawful top-up?
Additional rental situations
Can my lease require tenant liability insurance, and is that contents insurance?
The standard lease allows an agreed tenant liability-insurance requirement and a request for proof. Contents coverage protects belongings and is a separate question. Check the agreement and any applicable condominium requirements.
Read the insurance clause and policy; do not assume the landlord’s policy covers the tenant’s belongings.
Quick answer: My landlord wants a damage deposit
The RTA restricts security deposits. A lawful rent deposit is different from a damage deposit.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy landlord wants a key deposit
Key deposits can be subject to specific restrictions and should not function as an extra security or damage deposit.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAPet rule navigator
- Is this only a no-pets clause in the tenancy agreement, or is there a separate condominium rule?
- Is the animal causing substantial interference, damage, allergy concerns or safety issues?
- Is the issue about a pet, a guest, a roommate or another occupant? Different rules can apply.
What is the issue?
My lease simply says “no pets”
Section 14 generally makes a tenancy-agreement provision prohibiting animals void.
The pet is causing damage, serious disturbance or another specific problem
A void no-pets clause does not prevent other RTA remedies where the animal’s actual conduct creates a legally relevant problem. The facts matter.
There is another law or property-specific restriction involved
The RTA rule about no-pet lease clauses does not answer every situation. Other applicable legal restrictions may need separate review.
Read the OHI pet guideVerify in the RTA
More situations and less common questions
I pay rent to another tenant. Can I take them to the LTB?
A roommate who shares the unit with the tenant and is not themselves a tenant or authorized subtenant generally cannot use the LTB to resolve a dispute against that tenant or the owner. Other contractual rights may exist outside the RTA.
Who agreed to rent to whom? Does the original tenant still live there? Calling someone a subtenant or paying part of the rent does not settle their legal status.
My co-tenant stopped paying their half. Can the landlord demand it from me?
In a joint tenancy, tenants can each be responsible to the landlord for the full rent. A private agreement to split the rent does not necessarily limit the landlord’s rights. Separate tenancies can be different.
Is this one joint tenancy or separate rental agreements? Keep the lease, payment ledger and any agreement between the tenants.
Must I give my SIN to apply for an apartment?
A Social Insurance Number is not required for a basic credit check and generally cannot be imposed as a condition of renting. A landlord may ask, but should identify it as optional unless legally required. Other identifying information can be used.
Why is the number being requested? Ask whether a name, address, date of birth or suitable alternative identification will meet the stated purpose.
Can my landlord demand my diagnosis before considering accommodation?
For disability accommodation, information should generally concern the disability-related limitations, needs and requested accommodation. A diagnosis, treatment history or full medical record is not routinely required. A more intrusive request needs a clear justification; complex or unclear circumstances may require additional relevant information.
What information is actually necessary to understand the accommodation? Protect confidentiality and consider the least intrusive adequate evidence.
Additional rental situations
Can a landlord apply a no kids rule or reject my application because I have children?
Ordinary rental screening cannot reject people because they have children or rely on stereotypes about families. Pregnancy and family status engage human-rights protections. Genuine statutory exemptions and occupancy standards require separate assessment.
Keep the advertisement and application messages; distinguish a legal occupancy limit from a blanket family ban.
Can I be refused a rental because I receive Ontario Works or ODSP?
Receipt of public assistance is a protected housing ground. A landlord must not reject an applicant simply because income comes from Ontario Works or ODSP. Screening must use lawful, individualized criteria.
Consider the full permitted screening information rather than a blanket no-benefits rule.
I am a newcomer or first-time renter with no credit history. Is that bad credit?
OHRC guidance says landlords should not equate missing credit history with bad credit or reject solely for that absence. Newcomers and first-time renters may need an individualized assessment using other relevant information.
Ask what alternative references or records can reasonably support the application.
Can I be rejected because rent exceeds 30 percent of my income?
OHRC guidance rejects blanket rent-to-income ratios such as a 30-percent cutoff in ordinary private rental screening. Assess permitted income, rental-history and credit information properly. Rent-geared-to-income housing has separate rules.
Distinguish enough income to pay rent from a fixed percentage or three-times-rent rule.
Can a rental agreement prohibit smoking inside my unit?
Landlord and tenant can agree on smoking rules inside the unit. Provincial rules separately prohibit smoking in indoor common areas outside the unit. Condo rules, actual smoke interference and accommodation needs can also matter.
Check the existing agreement, location and applicable rules; a breach does not authorize a self-help eviction.
My lease cannot ban pets. Can condo rules still restrict my dog?
A void no-pet lease clause does not invalidate applicable condominium restrictions. Governing documents may restrict animal size, number or type. Their validity, enforcement and disability-related accommodation must be considered separately.
Obtain the current declaration and rules rather than relying on a verbal description.
I had a baby. Can my landlord demand more rent or a new lease?
In an ordinary RTA-covered tenancy, a new child does not automatically permit an extra-occupant fee or forced new lease. Family-status rights and lawful rent rules apply; genuine occupancy and special-housing rules remain separate.
Identify the proposed charge and legal basis rather than assuming any household change resets rent.
Quick answer: My landlord says pets are banned
A no-pet clause is generally void under the RTA, but other laws, condominium rules or specific circumstances can matter.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy landlord is restricting guests
Guest restrictions can raise reasonable-enjoyment and occupancy issues. Different rules can apply to exempt housing or other specific arrangements.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy landlord says I cannot have a roommate
Additional occupants and roommates are not the same thing as assigning or subletting a tenancy. Occupancy standards and other rules can still apply.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTACan I install a portable or window air conditioner despite a no-AC clause?
Where the landlord supplies no air conditioning, the July 1, 2026 rules allow a tenant-installed window or portable AC if conditions are met, despite a lease ban. Written notice, safe installation, compliance with applicable laws and prevention of damage are required. These rules exclude mobile home parks and land lease communities.
Check whether AC is already supplied, the type of unit and applicable installation restrictions. Give written usage-period notice; provide available energy-efficiency and intended-use information if electricity is included.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
ac install air conditioning lease rent tenancyRepairs & utilities navigator
- Is the issue maintenance, damage, mould/pests, or a vital service such as heat, water or electricity?
- Has the landlord been told about the problem and given a reasonable opportunity to address it?
- Is there an immediate health, safety or vital-service issue?
- Is anyone proposing to withhold rent or deduct repair costs? Those actions have separate rules and formal remedies may be required.
What is happening?
The landlord is not making needed repairs
Ontario landlords generally have statutory repair and maintenance obligations. Document the condition, dates and repair requests.
Explore OHI rental guidesThe landlord says I must pay for repairs
Landlords have maintenance duties, while tenants can be responsible for undue damage caused wilfully or negligently. The cause and evidence matter.
Read the OHI repair guideA vital service or utility has been shut off
Interference with vital services can engage specific RTA protections. Identify who supplies the service, why it stopped and what the tenancy requires.
Read the OHI utilities guideThere is mould or a pest problem
Responsibility can depend on the condition, its cause, notice given and steps taken. Keep photos, communications and service records.
Mould guidePest guideMore situations and less common questions
I knew it was broken before moving in. Must the landlord still repair it?
The landlord’s statutory maintenance obligations generally apply even if the tenant knew about the disrepair before renting. A lease term or acceptance of the condition does not automatically transfer those obligations to the tenant.
What is broken, which maintenance or safety standard applies, and what written repair requests and evidence exist?
Must the landlord maintain shared stairs, laundry facilities and parking areas?
A landlord’s maintenance duties can extend to the residential complex and facilities provided with the tenancy, including relevant common areas, stairs, laundry facilities and parking areas. The facility’s status and the applicable standards matter.
Was the area or facility provided with the tenancy? Document the condition, any safety concern and the request for repair.
A neglected leak damaged my furniture. Can I seek compensation?
The LTB can order compensation for property damage and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses caused by a landlord’s maintenance breach. A leak or loss does not by itself prove the landlord is liable. The breach, causal connection, evidence, reasonable costs and applicable time limits matter.
Keep dated photographs, repair requests, receipts and records of damaged items. Consider insurance and reasonable steps to reduce further loss; do not assume rent can simply be withheld.
Additional rental situations
Do I need permission to hang pictures or install window coverings?
The standard lease distinguishes decorative items, such as pictures and window coverings, from other changes requiring the landlord’s permission. Major alterations, damage and restoration obligations need separate consideration.
Identify the proposed work and installation method; get agreement before making non-decorative alterations.
The fridge or stove provided with my rental stopped working. Who fixes it?
Items the landlord provides, including appliances, generally must be kept in working order. Tenant-caused undue damage is a separate responsibility question. An appliance breakdown does not automatically authorize a rent deduction.
Confirm who supplied the appliance, document the fault and report it promptly in writing.
Quick answer: My landlord wants me to pay for repairs
Landlords have statutory maintenance duties, while tenants can be responsible for certain damage caused by wilful or negligent conduct.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTALocks & security navigator
- Who changed or wants to change the lock—the landlord or the tenant?
- Can the tenant currently access the rental unit?
- Was a replacement key provided where required?
- Is the issue actually about cameras or another security device rather than the lock itself?
What is happening?
My landlord changed the locks and I cannot get in
A landlord generally cannot use a lock change as a substitute for the lawful termination and eviction process.
Read the illegal lockout guideI want to change the locks as a tenant
A tenant generally cannot alter the locking system so the landlord cannot access the unit without the landlord’s consent.
Read the OHI locks guideSecurity cameras are involved
The answer can depend on who installed the camera, where it records, what it captures and whether it interferes with lawful use of the property.
Landlord camera guideQuick answer: My landlord shut off utilities
A landlord cannot simply interfere with vital services they are obligated to provide. The exact remedy depends on the facts.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTASelling & termination navigator
- Is the property only listed, or is there an accepted sale agreement?
- Who is expected to occupy the unit after the tenancy ends?
- How much notice is being provided?
Those facts can change which Ontario rental rules and forms are relevant. Use the scenario links below to review the applicable OHI explanation and official source.
What has actually happened?
The property is only being listed or marketed for sale
A tenancy can only be terminated in accordance with the RTA. Listing a property for sale does not itself terminate the tenancy.
There is a buyer and I received an N12
An N12 is a formal notice, not an eviction order by itself. Whether purchaser-use termination is available depends on the statutory requirements and facts. Check the current notice, compensation, timing and LTB process before acting.
I was simply told verbally or by text that I have to leave
Ontario tenancies generally require the applicable statutory termination process. Do not treat an informal request as equivalent to an LTB eviction order.
Read the OHI selling guideVerify in the RTA
Additional rental situations
The property sold. Must I sign the buyer’s new lease or accept market rent?
A new landlord generally takes over the existing tenancy’s rights and duties. Sale alone does not require a new lease or reset rent to market. Changes and any termination must follow the applicable law.
Review the existing tenancy and verify the new landlord’s identity before changing payment instructions or terms.
Quick answer: My landlord says I must move because the property is selling
A sale and a lawful termination are separate issues. Purchaser-use situations can involve specific notice, eligibility, compensation and procedure.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAAssignment & subletting navigator
- Will another person permanently take over the tenancy, or will the original tenant return later?
- Has the landlord been asked for consent?
- Did the landlord refuse assignment generally, refuse a specific proposed assignee, or fail to respond?
- Is the tenant trying to leave before the current term or notice period ends?
What are you trying to do?
Someone will permanently take over my tenancy
An assignment transfers the tenancy to another person. Consent and refusal rules under the RTA can affect the options available to the tenant.
Someone will stay temporarily and I plan to return
A sublet differs from an assignment. The original tenant generally intends to resume occupancy, and statutory consent rules apply.
My landlord refused my request
The consequences can differ depending on whether the landlord refused assignment generally or refused a particular proposed person.
Read assignment vs. sublettingVerify in the RTA
Additional rental situations
My landlord ignored my assignment request for seven days. What can I do?
Refusal of assignment in principle or no reply within seven days can permit early termination by N9. It must be given within the statutory 30-day window after the request, with the applicable minimum notice, generally 30 days or 28 for daily or weekly tenancies. Check eligibility and the exact request.
Keep proof of the request and delivery dates; a refusal of a particular proposed person can raise different issues.
Can the landlord charge a profit or large administration fee to approve assignment?
A landlord can charge reasonable actual costs of approving an assignment, such as an assignee credit check. The charge cannot exceed those costs. A flat fee is not automatically justified by calling it administration.
Ask for the nature and amount of the actual approval expense.
Can a sublet last beyond my lease term or rental period?
A qualifying sublet must end before the end of the head tenant’s term or rental period, with the tenant retaining the right to return. A month-to-month tenant cannot simply assume a year-long sublet is valid. A roommate or assignment is different.
Check exact dates, the tenancy period, who leaves and who returns, and landlord consent.
My authorized subtenant will not leave when the sublet ends. What next?
Where an authorized subtenancy has ended and the subtenant stays, the head tenant or landlord may have an A2 eviction route. The application must generally be made within 60 days after the subtenancy ended. Do not substitute a self-help lockout.
Confirm that this was an authorized sublet and preserve the agreed end date and notices.
Quick answer: I want to assign my lease
The RTA contains specific rules for assignment, including what may follow if a landlord refuses consent.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAI signed a lease but moved in late. Does rent start only when I arrive?
Under RTA section 13, the tenancy takes effect when the tenant is entitled to occupy the unit, even without actual entry. Choosing to arrive later does not itself postpone the agreed start.
Distinguish voluntary late arrival from a landlord failing to provide possession. Check the agreement, availability of keys and any written change to the start date.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
delayed arrival air conditioning lease rent tenancyIf I leave early, can the landlord leave the unit empty and bill me?
RTA section 16 requires a person claiming loss from a tenancy breach to take reasonable steps to minimize it. Early departure does not automatically erase liability, but a demand for the full remaining term is not automatically justified either.
Keep dated advertising, showing records, applicant responses, replacement tenancy dates and a loss calculation. Seek advice on the valid termination date and recoverable loss.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
mitigate loss air conditioning lease rent tenancyEnding a tenancy navigator
- Is the tenancy fixed-term, month-to-month, or another periodic tenancy?
- Who wants to end it—the tenant or landlord?
- Is there an agreement to end the tenancy, an LTB notice, or neither?
- What termination date and notice period are being proposed?
The required form, notice period and termination date depend on the route being used.
Which situation is closest?
I want to give ordinary notice and move out
The required notice period and valid termination date depend on the tenancy type and circumstances.
I need to leave earlier than the normal notice period
Assignment, an agreement to terminate, or specific statutory termination rights may affect whether the tenancy can end earlier.
My fixed-term lease is ending
For many RTA-covered tenancies, reaching the end of the fixed term does not by itself require the tenant to leave.
My landlord gave me a termination notice
The form, reason, dates, compensation requirements where applicable, and any LTB application determine the next procedural steps.
Moving-out checklistEarly move-out guide
More situations and less common questions
My spouse died and my name is not on the lease. Must I leave?
A qualifying surviving spouse can be included in the definition of tenant even if they were previously only an occupant. The regulation includes a rule concerning a spouse who leaves within 30 days, and exclusions apply to certain housing types. Do not assume that the sole-tenant death rule requires every surviving spouse to leave.
Was the remaining person a tenant already, or a spouse within the statutory definition? Is this ordinary private housing or a special housing arrangement?
My parent died. Do I automatically inherit their rental apartment?
Living in a parent’s apartment as their child or occupant does not automatically make someone a tenant after the parent dies. Their own tenant status, any valid assignment or new agreement, and the facts must be examined. A will alone should not be treated as proof of a transferred tenancy.
Was the child already a tenant, merely an occupant, or party to another agreement? Check before demanding possession or promising that the tenancy continues.
What happens to the tenancy when the only tenant dies?
Where a tenant dies and there are no other tenants of the unit, the RTA generally deems the tenancy terminated 30 days after death. Check surviving-spouse rules, special housing arrangements and any valid agreement with the estate before relying on that timeline.
Who else is a tenant or qualifying spouse? What was the date of death, and who is authorized to act for the estate?
Can the estate collect a deceased tenant’s belongings?
During the applicable 30-day period following a sole tenant’s death, the landlord must generally preserve the belongings and allow the executor or administrator reasonable access to remove them. Where there is no executor or administrator, the legislation addresses access by a family member. Unsafe or unhygienic items and later disposal have separate rules.
Confirm the representative’s authority, the death date, any remaining tenant or spouse, and any agreement about access or property. Do not assume that every family member can direct the estate.
I am hospitalized or temporarily away. Is that abandonment?
Hospitalization, travel or another temporary absence does not by itself establish abandonment. The LTB says that a unit is not considered abandoned if rent is paid and current. Unpaid rent alone also does not prove that the tenant has permanently left.
Is the tenant temporarily absent or actually moved out? Is rent current? Record reliable evidence and communication before changing locks, re-renting or handling belongings.
The Sheriff evicted me. Can I still collect my belongings?
After the Sheriff enforces an LTB eviction order, the landlord generally must give the tenant 72 hours to retrieve belongings before disposing of them. The property must be available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during that period. Mobile homes and agreements about property can involve different rules.
Was the eviction actually enforced by the Sheriff, or did the tenant leave another way? Record the enforcement time and arrange lawful access.
I had to sign an N11 to get the rental. Is it enforceable?
A landlord generally cannot require an N11 agreement to end the tenancy as a condition of renting a unit. A tenant does not have to leave based on an agreement required when they agreed to rent. Specific student-housing and care-home exceptions exist.
Was signing required to obtain the rental, or was there a later voluntary agreement? Keep the original offer, lease and messages.
Can I leave a fixed-term lease because of sexual or domestic violence?
Use the official N15 instructions to check the qualifying circumstances and supporting documents. Keep the required documentation confidential and follow the official delivery instructions.
Use the official N15 instructions to check the qualifying circumstances and supporting documents. Do not put private details into a public message or ordinary search query.
Can one joint tenant use an N15 without ending everyone’s tenancy?
Eligible joint tenants who sign an N15 can end their own interests in the tenancy. If not all tenants sign, the tenancy continues for those who did not sign. The landlord generally must keep the notice, documents and their information confidential, including from other tenants, subject to statutory exceptions.
Who signed the notice? Check the remaining tenants’ position and the confidentiality rules rather than notifying everyone or treating the entire tenancy as ended.
Additional rental situations
I left for N13 renovations. How do I preserve my right to return?
For qualifying N13 repairs or renovations, give written notice of the intention to return before leaving and keep the address current. Rent follows the no-interruption rule. For a tenant’s written return notice given on or after September 21, 2026, completion updates and at least 60 days to reoccupy apply.
Distinguish repairs from demolition or conversion and check the dates and current L2 instructions.
Quick answer: I want to move out without 60 days’ notice
Ordinary termination rules may require notice, but assignment, agreements to terminate and other statutory routes can change the result.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTALandlord pathways
Choose the issue closest to the situation, then open the matching scenario.
Rent & payment problems
How soon must I give the tenant a fully signed lease copy?
RTA section 12 requires the signed agreement copy within 21 days after the tenant signs and gives it to the landlord. The agreement must include the landlord’s legal name and address for notices.
Request missing documents in writing. Section 12 can suspend rent obligations until compliance, but withheld rent becomes payable once the landlord complies. Get advice before withholding; this differs from the standard-lease request rules.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
signed copy air conditioning lease rent tenancyCan my lease make all remaining rent immediately payable after a missed payment?
RTA section 15 makes an acceleration clause void: default cannot automatically make the remaining term’s rent or a specified default sum due. This does not erase rent already owing.
Separate existing arrears from future rent. Use the lawful arrears process and current forms rather than the acceleration clause.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
accelerated rent air conditioning lease rent tenancyHow do I calculate and stop a seasonal air-conditioner charge?
For qualifying units installed on or after July 1, 2026 with electricity included, a seasonal charge is capped at actual electricity cost or a reasonable usage-based estimate. A lease promising no increase prevents the charge. Remove the full increase when use stops; ordinary 90-day and 12-month increase rules do not apply.
Document installation date, usage periods and calculations. The tenant should notify the landlord in writing when use stops. Disputed excess payments may be raised through a T1 application.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
ac seasonal air conditioning lease rent tenancy- Is rent currently unpaid, or is the tenant paying in full but repeatedly late?
- What exact amount is outstanding and for which rental periods?
- Has any payment been received since a notice was prepared or served?
- Which notice/application route is being considered, and is the current prescribed form being used?
Non-payment and persistent late payment are different issues and can require different LTB processes.
The tenant owes rent now
- Is rent currently unpaid or only being paid late?
- Was any N4 given on or after September 21, 2026?
- Has the tenant paid all arrears before an LTB application was filed?
These facts affect the appropriate next step. For N4 notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date must generally be at least 7 days after the notice is given; an N4 becomes void if all rent owing is paid before the landlord files the LTB application.
Non-payment of rent has a specific notice and LTB process. For an N4 given on or after September 21, 2026, the notice period is 7 days. Keep an accurate rent ledger and use the current prescribed form rather than self-help remedies.
N4 process guideCurrent LTB formsThe tenant repeatedly pays rent late
Persistent late payment is different from a single episode of arrears. Document the payment history and use the applicable current procedure.
Repeated late-payment guideMore situations and less common questions
One joint tenant stopped paying. Can I claim the full rent from another joint tenant?
In a joint tenancy, tenants can each be responsible to the landlord for the full rent. A private agreement to split the rent does not necessarily limit the landlord’s rights. Separate tenancies can be different.
Is this one joint tenancy or separate rental agreements? Keep the lease, payment ledger and any agreement between the tenants.
A tenant requested the standard lease. What must I provide and when?
If the tenancy is one that requires Ontario’s standard lease, the tenant can request it in writing. If it is not provided within 21 calendar days, the tenant may withhold one month’s rent, not keep withholding additional months. If the landlord provides it within 30 calendar days after that rent was withheld, the tenant must repay the withheld rent. Otherwise the tenant may keep that one month’s rent. Separate early-termination rules may also apply.
Is the standard lease required for this tenancy? Keep the written request and delivery dates, and verify the conditions before withholding any rent.
A former tenant wants rent receipts. Can I charge or refuse?
A landlord must provide a receipt on request for rent, a rent deposit or other amounts paid to the landlord. A former tenant can request receipts within 12 months after the tenancy ended. The landlord cannot charge a receipt fee.
Was the request made by a current tenant or within 12 months after the tenancy ended? Identify the payments and dates for which receipts are needed.
Can I require pre-authorized payments or postdated cheques?
A landlord and tenant may agree to postdated cheques or automatic payments, but a landlord cannot require those payment methods. This differs from choosing a mutually agreed way to pay rent.
Was the method voluntarily agreed to, or imposed as a condition? Keep the lease and communications about payment.
Can a tenant change our agreed rent payment method without consent?
Once landlord and tenant agree on a method of paying rent, it generally cannot be changed unless both agree. Discuss a workable alternative and keep a written record of any agreement; a payment-method dispute does not automatically erase the rent owed.
What method was agreed to? Is either side proposing a change, and has the other side agreed?
Do I owe annual interest on a tenant’s rent deposit?
The landlord generally owes annual interest on the rent deposit at the applicable rent-increase guideline rate. The RTA also allows interest to be applied toward a permitted deposit top-up. Interest, a top-up and use of the deposit for the final rental period are separate accounting questions.
What deposit is held, what period is covered, and has any interest already been paid or credited toward a lawful top-up?
Can I post a tenant’s unpaid rent on a private bad-tenant list?
Federal privacy guidance says landlords do not have the right to disclose information such as a poor payment history to an unregulated or ad hoc bad-tenant list. Reporting through legitimate, regulated mechanisms can involve different rules. Do not assume an online group is a lawful credit-reporting service.
What information would be disclosed, to whom, for what purpose, and through what legally authorized process?
Additional rental situations
We never signed a lease. Can an oral rental agreement still be a tenancy?
A tenancy can be oral or implied. Not signing a lease does not automatically remove RTA protection. Most new private tenancies still require the standard lease; the actual rental arrangement and any exemption matter.
Keep payment records, messages, the agreed move-in date and the rental terms.
Can I require tenant liability insurance and ask for proof?
The standard lease allows an agreed tenant liability-insurance requirement and a request for proof. Contents coverage protects belongings and is a separate question. Check the agreement and any applicable condominium requirements.
Read the insurance clause and policy; do not assume the landlord’s policy covers the tenant’s belongings.
What can I charge when a tenant’s rent cheque is returned NSF?
For an NSF rent cheque, recoverable charges can include the financial institution’s charge to the landlord and an administration charge capped at $20 per cheque. That is not permission to add an arbitrary penalty.
Keep the bank charge evidence and distinguish cheque charges from rent or other fees.
Can I add a daily late-rent fee or arrears interest in the lease?
A private lease cannot impose fees or interest on rent arrears that the RTA prohibits. Permitted NSF cheque charges are a separate issue. Rent-collection and termination processes do not create a right to invent late penalties.
Separate lawful rent, permitted charges and any claimed penalty in the ledger.
Can removing an included service or facility lead to a rent reduction?
A reduced or discontinued service or facility can support a T3 rent-reduction application. Check whether parking, storage or another benefit formed part of the tenancy, how it changed and the applicable deadlines.
Keep the agreement, advertisements and dates; do not choose a rent deduction without an agreement or lawful order.
Could lower municipal taxes or charges create a rent-reduction obligation?
A decrease in municipal taxes and charges can support a T3 application by a current tenant. Calculation, timing and any automatic-reduction rules matter; it is not a dollar-for-dollar refund of the owner’s tax savings.
Check municipal notices, the relevant tax years and current T3 instructions before changing rent.
Can a properly structured rent discount end without being an ordinary rent increase?
Ending a valid rent discount can differ from increasing lawful rent. Not every advertised discount meets the statutory rules. The lease, payment history and prescribed discount conditions determine the result.
Keep the original offer and discount terms; do not assume the higher advertised figure is automatically lawful.
Entry, locks & access
- Why is entry required—repair, inspection, showing, emergency or another reason?
- Does that reason require written notice, and if so, was proper notice given?
- Is the proposed entry time within the permitted window where applicable?
- If locks were changed, who changed them and does each party have the access/key required by law?
The tenant refuses lawful entry
Document the reason, notice, date and attempted entry. If the statutory requirements were satisfied, use lawful remedies rather than forcing access.
Landlord entry-refusal guideThe tenant changed the locks
A tenant generally cannot alter the locking system so the landlord cannot gain entry without the landlord’s consent.
Locks guideMore situations and less common questions
Can I serve a formal notice by email because we usually email?
The permitted method depends on the document and the applicable rules. Email service generally requires written consent from the recipient, unless the LTB authorizes another route. Written consent can be revoked by written notice. Routine emails alone should not be treated as proof that every formal document can be served that way.
What document is being served? Is there written consent, has it been revoked, or is there an LTB service direction? Check the current rules and delivery timing.
Does lawful entry let me photograph an occupied rental and its contents?
Where federal private-sector privacy law applies, photographing an occupied rental and its contents can collect personal information. The landlord generally must explain the purpose and obtain consent, with limited legal exceptions. Permission or lawful notice to enter should not be treated as blanket permission to photograph or publish personal information.
Is this a commercial rental activity covered by privacy law? What will be photographed, why, and who will receive or see the images?
Additional rental situations
Can I lawfully enter with proper notice while the tenant is away?
When the RTA’s entry requirements are met, a landlord may enter while the tenant is absent. A tenant may stay during entry but cannot refuse solely because the time is inconvenient.
Check the permitted reason, notice, date and time. Discuss reasonable arrangements without treating consent as always necessary.
Can an entry notice give an all-day time window?
The notice must specify a time within the permitted hours. A reasonable window may sometimes be necessary, but an entire day is not automatically sufficient. The work and the landlord’s control over timing matter.
Assess the reason and practical scheduling limits rather than treating all 8-to-8 notices as valid.
Does serving notice make any number of inspections reasonable?
Landlords should limit entries to those reasonably necessary. Unnecessary or unreasonable repeated inspections may interfere with enjoyment or amount to harassment even where notices were sent.
Keep a dated entry log with reasons, notices and the effect on use of the unit.
Occupants, subletting & pets
- Is the additional person a guest, roommate, assignee or subtenant?
- Has the original tenant actually transferred possession of the unit?
- Was consent requested for an assignment or sublet?
- For a pet issue, is the concern only a lease clause, or is there documented damage, interference, safety/allergy concern or a condominium rule?
The tenant moved someone in
A roommate or additional occupant is not automatically an assignment or sublet. Occupancy standards and the actual tenancy arrangement matter.
Occupant guideThe tenant wants to assign or sublet
Assignment and subletting are legally different. Determine which arrangement is proposed before responding.
Assignment vs. sublettingThe tenant has a pet despite a no-pets clause
A no-pets provision is generally void under the RTA. Actual damage, serious interference or other legally relevant conduct must be assessed separately.
Pet guideMore situations and less common questions
A tenant collects rent from a roommate. Does that roommate have LTB rights?
A roommate who shares the unit with the tenant and is not themselves a tenant or authorized subtenant generally cannot use the LTB to resolve a dispute against that tenant or the owner. Other contractual rights may exist outside the RTA.
Who agreed to rent to whom? Does the original tenant still live there? Calling someone a subtenant or paying part of the rent does not settle their legal status.
Can I require a Social Insurance Number (SIN) on a rental application?
A Social Insurance Number is not required for a basic credit check and generally cannot be imposed as a condition of renting. A landlord may ask, but should identify it as optional unless legally required. Other identifying information can be used.
Why is the number being requested? Ask whether a name, address, date of birth or suitable alternative identification will meet the stated purpose.
Can I demand a tenant’s diagnosis or medical records for accommodation?
For disability accommodation, information should generally concern the disability-related limitations, needs and requested accommodation. A diagnosis, treatment history or full medical record is not routinely required. A more intrusive request needs a clear justification; complex or unclear circumstances may require additional relevant information.
What information is actually necessary to understand the accommodation? Protect confidentiality and consider the least intrusive adequate evidence.
Additional rental situations
Can I advertise a no kids or adults-only rental or reject families with children?
Ordinary rental screening cannot reject people because they have children or rely on stereotypes about families. Pregnancy and family status engage human-rights protections. Genuine statutory exemptions and occupancy standards require separate assessment.
Keep the advertisement and application messages; distinguish a legal occupancy limit from a blanket family ban.
Can I reject a rental applicant because their income comes from Ontario Works or ODSP?
Receipt of public assistance is a protected housing ground. A landlord must not reject an applicant simply because income comes from Ontario Works or ODSP. Screening must use lawful, individualized criteria.
Consider the full permitted screening information rather than a blanket no-benefits rule.
Can I treat no Canadian credit history as a bad credit rating?
OHRC guidance says landlords should not equate missing credit history with bad credit or reject solely for that absence. Newcomers and first-time renters may need an individualized assessment using other relevant information.
Ask what alternative references or records can reasonably support the application.
Can I require every rental applicant to earn three times the rent?
OHRC guidance rejects blanket rent-to-income ratios such as a 30-percent cutoff in ordinary private rental screening. Assess permitted income, rental-history and credit information properly. Rent-geared-to-income housing has separate rules.
Distinguish enough income to pay rent from a fixed percentage or three-times-rent rule.
Can I include a no-smoking condition in the rental agreement?
Landlord and tenant can agree on smoking rules inside the unit. Provincial rules separately prohibit smoking in indoor common areas outside the unit. Condo rules, actual smoke interference and accommodation needs can also matter.
Check the existing agreement, location and applicable rules; a breach does not authorize a self-help eviction.
Can condominium pet restrictions apply to a rented condo unit?
A void no-pet lease clause does not invalidate applicable condominium restrictions. Governing documents may restrict animal size, number or type. Their validity, enforcement and disability-related accommodation must be considered separately.
Obtain the current declaration and rules rather than relying on a verbal description.
Can I increase rent just because a tenant has a baby?
In an ordinary RTA-covered tenancy, a new child does not automatically permit an extra-occupant fee or forced new lease. Family-status rights and lawful rent rules apply; genuine occupancy and special-housing rules remain separate.
Identify the proposed charge and legal basis rather than assuming any household change resets rent.
What happens if I do not respond to an assignment request within seven days?
Refusal of assignment in principle or no reply within seven days can permit early termination by N9. It must be given within the statutory 30-day window after the request, with the applicable minimum notice, generally 30 days or 28 for daily or weekly tenancies. Check eligibility and the exact request.
Keep proof of the request and delivery dates; a refusal of a particular proposed person can raise different issues.
What assignment-approval costs can I charge to the tenant?
A landlord can charge reasonable actual costs of approving an assignment, such as an assignee credit check. The charge cannot exceed those costs. A flat fee is not automatically justified by calling it administration.
Ask for the nature and amount of the actual approval expense.
Can I approve a year-long sublet of a month-to-month tenancy?
A qualifying sublet must end before the end of the head tenant’s term or rental period, with the tenant retaining the right to return. A month-to-month tenant cannot simply assume a year-long sublet is valid. A roommate or assignment is different.
Check exact dates, the tenancy period, who leaves and who returns, and landlord consent.
An authorized subtenant stayed past the agreed end date. Is there an LTB route?
Where an authorized subtenancy has ended and the subtenant stays, the head tenant or landlord may have an A2 eviction route. The application must generally be made within 60 days after the subtenancy ended. Do not substitute a self-help lockout.
Confirm that this was an authorized sublet and preserve the agreed end date and notices.
Maintenance, repairs & damage
Can I refuse a tenant’s portable or window air conditioner?
Where the landlord supplies no air conditioning, the July 1, 2026 rules allow a tenant-installed window or portable AC if conditions are met, despite a lease ban. Written notice, safe installation, compliance with applicable laws and prevention of damage are required. These rules exclude mobile home parks and land lease communities.
Check whether AC is already supplied, the type of unit and applicable installation restrictions. Give written usage-period notice; provide available energy-efficiency and intended-use information if electricity is included.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
ac install air conditioning lease rent tenancy- Is this ordinary maintenance, normal wear and tear, or alleged tenant-caused damage?
- What evidence documents the condition before and after the issue?
- Has the tenant reported a maintenance problem that still needs to be addressed?
- Is rent being withheld? Maintenance obligations and rent-payment obligations should be analyzed separately.
The tenant is withholding rent because of repairs
Maintenance obligations still need to be addressed, while a tenant generally should not simply stop paying rent as a self-help remedy.
Withholding-rent guideThe tenant damaged the unit
Document the condition and distinguish ordinary wear and tear from undue damage. The appropriate remedy depends on the facts and evidence.
Tenant-damage guideWear-and-tear guideMore situations and less common questions
The tenant accepted existing disrepair. Do I still have to fix it?
The landlord’s statutory maintenance obligations generally apply even if the tenant knew about the disrepair before renting. A lease term or acceptance of the condition does not automatically transfer those obligations to the tenant.
What is broken, which maintenance or safety standard applies, and what written repair requests and evidence exist?
Do my maintenance duties include common areas and facilities?
A landlord’s maintenance duties can extend to the residential complex and facilities provided with the tenancy, including relevant common areas, stairs, laundry facilities and parking areas. The facility’s status and the applicable standards matter.
Was the area or facility provided with the tenancy? Document the condition, any safety concern and the request for repair.
A maintenance problem damaged the tenant’s belongings. Could I owe compensation?
The LTB can order compensation for property damage and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses caused by a landlord’s maintenance breach. A leak or loss does not by itself prove the landlord is liable. The breach, causal connection, evidence, reasonable costs and applicable time limits matter.
Keep dated photographs, repair requests, receipts and records of damaged items. Consider insurance and reasonable steps to reduce further loss; do not assume rent can simply be withheld.
Additional rental situations
Can a tenant decorate, paint or alter the rental without asking?
The standard lease distinguishes decorative items, such as pictures and window coverings, from other changes requiring the landlord’s permission. Major alterations, damage and restoration obligations need separate consideration.
Identify the proposed work and installation method; get agreement before making non-decorative alterations.
Must I repair an appliance supplied with the rental?
Items the landlord provides, including appliances, generally must be kept in working order. Tenant-caused undue damage is a separate responsibility question. An appliance breakdown does not automatically authorize a rent deduction.
Confirm who supplied the appliance, document the fault and report it promptly in writing.
Selling, abandonment & ending tenancy
The tenant has not physically moved in. Has the tenancy started?
Under RTA section 13, the tenancy takes effect when the tenant is entitled to occupy the unit, even without actual entry. Choosing to arrive later does not itself postpone the agreed start.
Distinguish voluntary late arrival from a landlord failing to provide possession. Check the agreement, availability of keys and any written change to the start date.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
delayed arrival air conditioning lease rent tenancyMust I try to re-rent when a tenant breaks the lease?
RTA section 16 requires a person claiming loss from a tenancy breach to take reasonable steps to minimize it. Early departure does not automatically erase liability, but a demand for the full remaining term is not automatically justified either.
Keep dated advertising, showing records, applicant responses, replacement tenancy dates and a loss calculation. Seek advice on the valid termination date and recoverable loss.
Verify the official Ontario guidance →
mitigate loss air conditioning lease rent tenancy- Is the goal to sell, recover the unit for qualifying occupancy, address suspected abandonment, or simply end a fixed term?
- For a sale, is there an accepted agreement and is qualifying purchaser occupancy actually intended?
- For suspected abandonment, what objective evidence exists beyond the tenant being absent?
- For a fixed term, is there another lawful basis to terminate? A fixed-term end date alone does not necessarily end the tenancy.
I am selling a tenanted property
Vacant possession cannot simply be assumed. Purchaser-use termination has specific statutory requirements. The September 21, 2026 N12 compensation change for 120-day notice applies to certain landlord-own-use notices and does not apply to purchaser-own-use notices.
Selling/N12 guideCurrent LTB formsI think the tenant abandoned the unit
Confirm the facts before treating the tenancy as abandoned or dealing with belongings. Rent status, communications, keys and evidence can matter.
Abandoned belongings guideThe fixed-term lease is ending
For many RTA-covered tenancies, the end of the fixed term does not itself require the tenant to leave. A lawful termination ground or agreement is generally needed.
Lease-renewal guideI want the tenant to leave for major renovations, demolition or conversion
Qualifying demolition, conversion, or repairs or renovations requiring vacancy may engage N13. Reoccupancy, compensation, notice and post-renovation obligations depend on the reason and circumstances.
N13 guideOfficial N13 instructionsI want the unit for myself or a family member
Landlord-own-use termination requires a qualifying person, good-faith intention and the statutory process. For notices served on or after September 21, 2026, the compensation rules can depend on whether at least 120 days’ notice is provided.
N12 guideA purchaser wants to move into the tenanted property
An accepted agreement of purchase and sale and qualifying purchaser occupancy are among the facts that matter. The September 21, 2026 landlord-own-use compensation change does not apply the same way to purchaser-own-use notices.
Purchaser-use guideI want an above-guideline rent increase
An AGI application may be available for specified statutory grounds such as certain eligible capital expenditures, extraordinary municipal tax increases or qualifying security-service costs.
AGI guideI am not sure whether this rental is exempt from the rent guideline
The annual rent guideline does not apply identically to every rental unit. Confirm the relevant first-occupancy facts before choosing a notice or calculating an increase.
Rent increase forms guideThe tenant is causing serious noise or interference problems
The seriousness, frequency, affected people and evidence matter. Different statutory notices can apply to different kinds of interference or serious problems.
Noise complaints guideI found belongings after the tenant moved out or appears to have left
Abandonment, termination and the circumstances in which belongings were left can affect what a landlord may do with them.
Abandoned belongings guideThe tenant says the damage is only normal wear and tear
Normal deterioration from ordinary use is different from undue damage. Photos, inspection records, age and condition of finishes and evidence of cause can be important.
Damage vs wear-and-tear guideThe tenant wants to use the last-month-rent deposit for something else
A last-month-rent deposit is generally held for the last rent period rather than as a general damage or repair fund. Deposit amount and interest rules also apply.
Last-month-rent guideI received a tenant or LTB form and need to know the next process
A tenant notice, an LTB application and an LTB order are different documents. Identify the form number, service date and any response or filing deadline before acting.
LTB overviewMore situations and less common questions
My tenant died and their spouse is not on the lease. Can the spouse stay?
A qualifying surviving spouse can be included in the definition of tenant even if they were previously only an occupant. The regulation includes a rule concerning a spouse who leaves within 30 days, and exclusions apply to certain housing types. Do not assume that the sole-tenant death rule requires every surviving spouse to leave.
Was the remaining person a tenant already, or a spouse within the statutory definition? Is this ordinary private housing or a special housing arrangement?
My tenant died and their adult child remains. Does the child inherit the tenancy?
Living in a parent’s apartment as their child or occupant does not automatically make someone a tenant after the parent dies. Their own tenant status, any valid assignment or new agreement, and the facts must be examined. A will alone should not be treated as proof of a transferred tenancy.
Was the child already a tenant, merely an occupant, or party to another agreement? Check before demanding possession or promising that the tenancy continues.
My only tenant died. Does the tenancy end immediately?
Where a tenant dies and there are no other tenants of the unit, the RTA generally deems the tenancy terminated 30 days after death. Check surviving-spouse rules, special housing arrangements and any valid agreement with the estate before relying on that timeline.
Who else is a tenant or qualifying spouse? What was the date of death, and who is authorized to act for the estate?
Can I let a deceased tenant’s family collect their belongings?
During the applicable 30-day period following a sole tenant’s death, the landlord must generally preserve the belongings and allow the executor or administrator reasonable access to remove them. Where there is no executor or administrator, the legislation addresses access by a family member. Unsafe or unhygienic items and later disposal have separate rules.
Confirm the representative’s authority, the death date, any remaining tenant or spouse, and any agreement about access or property. Do not assume that every family member can direct the estate.
My tenant is hospitalized or temporarily absent. Is the unit abandoned?
Hospitalization, travel or another temporary absence does not by itself establish abandonment. The LTB says that a unit is not considered abandoned if rent is paid and current. Unpaid rent alone also does not prove that the tenant has permanently left.
Is the tenant temporarily absent or actually moved out? Is rent current? Record reliable evidence and communication before changing locks, re-renting or handling belongings.
The Sheriff evicted the tenant. Can I dispose of belongings immediately?
After the Sheriff enforces an LTB eviction order, the landlord generally must give the tenant 72 hours to retrieve belongings before disposing of them. The property must be available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during that period. Mobile homes and agreements about property can involve different rules.
Was the eviction actually enforced by the Sheriff, or did the tenant leave another way? Record the enforcement time and arrange lawful access.
Can I require an N11 as a condition of renting the unit?
A landlord generally cannot require an N11 agreement to end the tenancy as a condition of renting a unit. A tenant does not have to leave based on an agreement required when they agreed to rent. Specific student-housing and care-home exceptions exist.
Was signing required to obtain the rental, or was there a later voluntary agreement? Keep the original offer, lease and messages.
A tenant wants to leave because of sexual or domestic violence. What process applies?
Use the official N15 instructions to check the qualifying circumstances and supporting documents. Keep the required documentation confidential and follow the official delivery instructions.
Use the official N15 instructions to check the qualifying circumstances and supporting documents. Do not put private details into a public message or ordinary search query.
Can an N15 end one tenant’s interest while the others stay?
Eligible joint tenants who sign an N15 can end their own interests in the tenancy. If not all tenants sign, the tenancy continues for those who did not sign. The landlord generally must keep the notice, documents and their information confidential, including from other tenants, subject to statutory exceptions.
Who signed the notice? Check the remaining tenants’ position and the confidentiality rules rather than notifying everyone or treating the entire tenancy as ended.
Additional rental situations
What must I do when an N13 tenant wants to return after renovations?
For qualifying N13 repairs or renovations, give written notice of the intention to return before leaving and keep the address current. Rent follows the no-interruption rule. For a tenant’s written return notice given on or after September 21, 2026, completion updates and at least 60 days to reoccupy apply.
Distinguish repairs from demolition or conversion and check the dates and current L2 instructions.
After buying a tenanted property, can I require a new lease at market rent?
A new landlord generally takes over the existing tenancy’s rights and duties. Sale alone does not require a new lease or reset rent to market. Changes and any termination must follow the applicable law.
Review the existing tenancy and verify the new landlord’s identity before changing payment instructions or terms.
My tenant repeatedly pays rent late
Repeated late payment can engage a different termination route than a single episode of arrears. Notice and LTB procedure matter.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant refuses lawful entry
A tenant generally cannot obstruct entry that complies with the RTA, but the landlord must first satisfy the applicable entry requirements.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant changed the locks
The RTA restricts tenants from altering the locking system without the landlord’s consent.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant moved someone in
An additional occupant is not automatically an assignment or sublet. The facts, occupancy standards and tenancy structure matter.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant wants to sublet
Subletting has a specific legal meaning and is governed by RTA consent rules. It should be distinguished from roommates and assignment.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant got a pet despite a no-pets clause
A no-pet provision is generally void under the RTA. Other issues involving the animal can require separate analysis.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant is withholding rent for repairs
Maintenance disputes do not generally authorize a tenant to simply stop paying rent; formal remedies are available through the LTB.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTAMy tenant will not leave because I am selling
The sale itself does not automatically require vacant possession. Purchaser-use termination has specific statutory requirements.
Read the OHI guideVerify in the RTALast reviewed: September 27, 2026. OHI reviews this tool when Ontario rental legislation, LTB forms or procedures materially change.