Ontario Tenants Most Asked Questions And Answers

加拿大安大略省房客最常問與答

Visit the Ontario Tenants Rights homepage

Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, index page online

Copyright: Robert B. Levitt
(rev. 5, January 31, 2007, published since July 1997)

This is a guide based upon the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, (RTA,) Statutes of Ontario, which is the landlord tenant law presently governing these matters and the regulations of the Landlord and Tenant Board, LTB, (formerly known as the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal).

THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROVIDED WITHOUT PREJUDICE AND IS ONLY MEANT AS A GUIDE; YOU SHOULD GET APPROPRIATE LEGAL ADVICE BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION. THE AUTHOR IS NOT A LAWYER NOR A PARLEGAL AND THE INFORMATION IS ASSUMED TO BE ACCURATE AS OF ITS DATE.

Before distributing this document or putting it onto any web site you must get the permission of the author.

I will not answer individual questions.

If you need answers about the Residential Tenancies Act you may contact the Customer Service line for the Landlord and Tenant Board at 416-645-8080 or outside of the 416 calling area, toll free at 1-888-332-3234.

If your landlord is violating the law, then you can contact the Investigation and Enforcement Unit, (IEU,) of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at 416-585-7214, or outside of the 416 calling area, toll free at 1-888-772-9277.

You can read the following if you want to organize a tenants association.

A quick index is next so you can go directly to what you want, but it is a good idea to read this whole document when you have some time.

 

ORGANIZING:
Why would I want to be a part of a tenants association; how do I set one up?

DOCUMENTATION:
Do I have to keep records of my rent and lease?

LEAVING YOUR APARTMENT:
Can I end my lease early? And do I have to give notice?
Are fees for “breaking a lease” legal?

PRIVACY:
When can a landlord enter my apartment?

PETS:
The landlord says I must either move out or get rid of my pet; Do I?

HEAT:
My apartment is too cold. What must the landlord provide?

REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE:
How can I get the landlord to make needed repairs in my apartment?

EVICTIONS:
When can I be legally evicted? And what can I do about it?
Can the landlord lock me out of my apartment?

RENT:
I am moving into a new apartment. What is the legal rent?
What about Rent Controls?
How often can my landlord raise my rent?
How much can my landlord raise my rent?
Should I sign an agreement on raising my rent?
Does the landlord have to give me a rent receipt?
Do I have to pay the landlord a “last month’s rent deposit? Does the landlord owe me any interest on this deposit?
What about other “deposits” or “fees”?
If the landlord or their employee(s) are harassing or threatening me, what should I do?

RENT DEPOSITS & OTHER CHARGES

Can a landlord charge a person a deposit or a fee to rent a unit?

Yes, a landlord can collect a rent deposit if it is requested on or before the day that the landlord and tenant enter into the tenancy agreement. The rent deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent or the rent for one rental period, whichever is less.   For example, if rent payments are made weekly, the deposit cannot be more than one week’s rent; if rent payments are made monthly or bi-monthly, the deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent.

The rent deposit must be used for the rent for the last month before the tenancy ends.  It cannot be used for anything else, such as to pay for damages.

Can a landlord ask a tenant to pay money to update their rent deposit?

If the rent increases after a tenant has paid a rent deposit, the landlord can ask the tenant to pay an additional amount towards the rent deposit so that it is the same as the new rent.

If a tenant gives notice that they want to move and the landlord has not previously asked the tenant to top up the rent deposit, the landlord still has the right to ask the tenant to pay an additional amount towards the rent for the last month, so that it is the same as the current rent.

Does a landlord have to pay interest if a rent deposit is collected?

Yes, the landlord must pay the tenant interest on the rent deposit every 12 months.  The amount of interest that a landlord must pay is the same as the rent increase guideline that is in effect when the interest payment is due.  The guideline is set each year by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.  Information about this year’s rent increase guideline can be found in the Brochures by Topic section of our website.

Note:  Landlords may deduct the amount needed to update the rent deposit (so that it equals the current rent) from the interest that is owed to the tenant.  See previous question.

If the landlord does not pay the interest owed to the tenant when it is due, the tenant can:

• deduct the interest from a future rent payment, or
• file a Tenant Application for a Rebate (Form T1) to the Board.

Can a landlord ask for a deposit for keys?

Yes, but only if:

• the deposit is refundable and,
• the amount of the deposit is not more than the expected cost of replacing the key(s) if they are not returned to the landlord.

The landlord must give the deposit back when the tenant turns in their key(s) at the end of their tenancy.

Can the landlord charge for additional or replacement keys?

The landlord can charge a tenant for additional keys that the tenant requests (for example, if the tenant wants an extra key or if the tenant has lost their key), however, the charge cannot be more than the actual cost to the landlord to get the additional keys.

If the landlord changes the locks, can the landlord charge the tenant for the new keys?

A tenant does not have to pay for new keys when the landlord decides to replace the lock with a new one, but the landlord may ask for a refundable key deposit for the new keys.

Can the landlord charge the tenant a damage deposit?

No.  A landlord cannot collect a damage deposit that they would use if there is damage done to the unit. Also, a landlord cannot use the last month’s rent deposit to cover damages in the unit.

If the landlord finds that a tenant has damaged the unit or caused damage to the building, the landlord can give the tenant a notice and/or ask them to pay for the damages.  If they do not, the landlord can apply to have the Board determine if there are damages and what should be done about them.  For more information about the remedies available to a landlord if a tenant causes damage, see the Board’s brochure on Maintenance & Repairs.

Can a landlord charge a fee if a tenant’s rent cheque is returned NSF?

If a tenant’s rent cheque is returned NSF, a landlord can ask the tenant to pay for the charges the landlord has to pay to the bank, plus an administrative charge of up to $20.00.  The landlord can also claim any NSF cheque charges they paid in an application to the Board for arrears of rent.

文章出處:  Landlord and Tenant Board https://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/key_information/STEL02_111479.html

   

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