Ontario Rental Laws – An Overview of Landlord-Tenant Rights in Ottawa

The Ontario Landlord-Tenant Act outlines the landlord and tenant’s rights in a tenancy agreement. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a tenancy agreement is entered when the tenant agrees to pay in exchange for living in rental housing. 

A rental property can be a residential space, such as a house, room, duplex, townhouse, basement, or apartment. When renting out a dwelling in Ontario, knowing what you can and can’t do under the law is crucial. The following is a general overview of Ontario’s landlord-tenant laws!

Tenant Rights & Responsibilities in Ontario 

Tenants enjoy the following rights under Ontario’s Residential Tenancy Act. A right to:

 

• • Reasonably enjoy their rental premises in peace and quiet, without any unnecessary interruption from the landlord or others. 

• • Be notified before landlord entry. 

• • Terminate tenancy agreements for certain justifiable reasons. 

• • Know about the rent payment policies. 

• • Have requested repairs completed within a reasonable timeframe after serving the landlord with proper notice. 

• • Be provided with a rent receipt after requesting one from the landlord. 

• • Live in a habitable rental unit. 

As for duties, Ontario tenants must do the following:

 

• • Keeping the rental premises clean and sanitary. 

• • Fixing damage that they or their guests cause. 

• • Paying rent on time as per the lease agreement. 

• • Not causing disturbance to other tenants or neighbors. 

• • Respecting the terms of the rental agreement. 

• • Notifying the landlord of repair or maintenance issues when they occur. 

• • Obeying the law by not engaging in any illegal activities within the rented premises. 

Landlord Rights & Responsibilities in Ontario 

As a landlord, renting out housing in Ontario grants you the right to:

 

• • Set the rental price. 

• • Raise rent as long as you comply with the annual rent increase guideline set by the Ontario government.

• • Request certain personal information from prospective tenants during the screening process.

• • Require tenants to pay last month’s rent deposit and a key deposit as part of the initial move-in fees. 

• • Enter the tenant’s premises if something needs fixing or do a maintenance inspection. 

• • Evict a tenant as per the legal process under the Residential Tenancies Act. 

When it comes to the list of responsibilities, they include the following:

 

• • Follow the judicial eviction process when trying to remove a tenant for a lease violation.

• • Adhere to the Human Rights Code by not discriminating against tenants based on certain protected classes. 

• • Provide habitable housing that complies with all health, safety, housing, and maintenance standards. 

• • Notify the tenant before entering their rented premises. 

• • Use a standard lease template to create the rental agreement. You must also provide the tenant with a copy of the signed agreement within 21 days after they move in. 

An Overview of the Landlord-Tenant Laws in Ontario 

The following is a general overview of some key elements of the Ontario landlord-tenant laws:

Tenant Eviction

Under the Ontario Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord can only evict a tenant for lease violation or “no-fault” reasons. Examples of lease violations that you can evict a tenant for include:

 

• • Not paying the rent in full. 

• • Causing damage to the rental housing unit. 

• • Disturbing the privacy of other tenants. 

• • Engaging in illegal activity in the rental unit. 

Examples of “no-fault” eviction reasons include the following:

 

• • If you’re planning to do major repairs or renovations to the unit. 

• • If you, a family member or a caregiver wishes to move into the rental unit. 

• • If you have agreed to sell the property and the buyer, their family member, or a caretaker wishes to move into the property. 

• • In most cases, you must compensate the tenant if evicting them for a “no-fault” reason.

Rent Increases

As a landlord in Ontario, you have a right to increase the rent amount. However, rent increases can only occur 12 months after:

 

• • The tenant last moved in. 

• • Or, the last rent increase. 

The annual rent increase guideline is decided by the Ontario government. But in addition to following the rent increase guideline, landlords must also provide the tenant with a written notice of at least 90 days. If they decide to increase the rent above the guideline, landlords must apply with the Landlord and Tenant Board. 

Last Month’s Tent

Although not required by the law, landlords can collect this deposit at the start of a tenancy. The Ontario tenancy laws require that the deposit not exceed the equivalent for one rental period. The tenant can use the deposit as rent for the last month or week, depending on the rental period. 

Besides the last month’s rent deposit, landlords can also require the tenant to pay a key deposit. However, the deposit amount must not exceed the cost of key replacement. 

Landlord Entry

Before entering a rental unit, Ontario landlords must notify their tenants 24 hours in advance.  In the written notice, residential landlords must detail the reason for entry, as well as the day and time of entry. Please note, however, that the time of entry must fall between 8 AM and 8 PM.  

The only exception to providing an advance notice or abiding by the entry times is during an emergency. Examples of common reasons for landlord entry include:

 

• • To fix something. 

• • To maintain or inspect the rental unit. 

• • To show the unit to prospective tenants if you had given the existing tenant a notice to move out. 

Bottom Line 

The Landlord-Tenant laws in Ontario are primarily governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). As a landlord, understanding it can help you maintain a legally compliant rental business. 

If you have a question or need to hire an expert property manager in Ottawa, look no further than Stewart Property Management. We provide a personalized approach to property management designed to meet your individual needs. Get in touch to learn more!

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this blog is intended for general guidance and should not be considered as a replacement for professional legal advice. It is important to be aware that laws pertaining to property management may change, rendering this information outdated by the time you read it.