Tenant Rights in Ontario
A complete, plain-language guide to renting in Ontario: deposits, rent increases, repairs, evictions, and how the Landlord and Tenant Board actually works.
Ontario tenancy law, explained
Residential tenancies in Ontario are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). Most disputes between landlords and tenants (rent arrears, evictions, repairs, illegal entry, deposit questions) are resolved by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), a division of Tribunals Ontario.
Ontario's rules are, in several important ways, different from other provinces: there is no damage deposit, no legally mandated move-in inspection, and eviction can only ever be physically enforced by the Sheriff, never by the landlord directly. The 20 guides below walk through every stage of a tenancy in detail, grouped by topic.
20 guides, organized by topic
Find the exact stage of your tenancy you need help with.
Money & Deposits
How deposits, rent increases, and utility costs actually work in Ontario.
Security Deposits in Ontario
Why there's no damage deposit, only a last month's rent deposit.
Read guideRent Increase Rules
The 2026 and 2027 guidelines, 90-day notice, and which units are exempt.
Read guideUtilities & Sub-Metering
Who pays for what, and the rules for switching to individual metering.
Read guideTenant Insurance
Not legally mandatory, but often required by your lease.
Read guideStarting a Tenancy
What happens before and at the very start of your lease.
Lease Agreement Basics
Ontario's mandatory standard lease form (2229E) explained.
Read guideDigital Lease Agreements
Are e-signatures on your lease actually legally binding?
Read guideRental Applications & Screening
What landlords can and can't ask, and your human rights protections.
Read guideFixed-Term vs. Periodic Tenancies
What happens when your lease term ends.
Read guideMove-In / Move-Out Inspections
Why Ontario doesn't legally require an inspection report, and why to do one anyway.
Read guideDuring Your Tenancy
Your day-to-day rights while you're living in the unit.
Landlord Entry Rules
The 24-hour written notice rule and permitted hours.
Read guideRepairs & Maintenance
Vital services protections and how to file a maintenance complaint.
Read guideSubletting & Assignment
The difference between the two, and when a landlord can refuse.
Read guideRenting a Condo
How the RTA and your condo corporation's rules interact.
Read guideEnding a Tenancy
Notices, breaking a lease early, and what eviction actually involves.
Notice to End Tenancy (N-Forms)
N4 through N14 explained in plain language.
Read guideBreaking a Lease Early
Your options, and the landlord's duty to mitigate losses.
Read guideThe Eviction Timeline
Step by step, from notice to Sheriff enforcement.
Read guideHow the Eviction Process Works
A closer look at L1 and L2 applications and LTB hearings.
Read guideResolving Disputes
Where to go, what it costs, and how to build your case.
LTB vs. Small Claims Court
Which forum handles which kind of dispute, including post-move-out claims.
Read guideHow to File an LTB Claim
Step-by-step: which form, current fees, and what to bring to a hearing.
Read guideHow to Prevent Rental Disputes
Documentation habits and communication tips that avoid conflict.
Read guideCommon questions
What law governs tenant rights in Ontario?
Most residential tenancies in Ontario are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). Disputes are generally resolved by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), a division of Tribunals Ontario.
Does Ontario allow a security or damage deposit?
No. Ontario does not permit a separate security or damage deposit. The only deposit a landlord can collect is a last month's rent deposit, capped at one month's rent, which is applied to your final month of tenancy rather than refunded.
Can my landlord evict me without going through the LTB?
No. A landlord must serve the correct notice, and if you don't move out voluntarily, file an application with the LTB and obtain an order. Even then, only the Sheriff can physically carry out an eviction; a landlord can never change your locks or remove your belongings themselves.
Where can I get free help with a tenancy dispute in Ontario?
The Tenant Duty Counsel Program offers free, same-day legal help at most (though not all) LTB hearing locations. The LTB itself also publishes guides and brochures explaining the process.
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