TREADSTONE LAW · ONTARIO · DIGITAL LEGAL SERVICES · EST. MMXXI ·TSL
Learn/Ask a Lawyer/Litigation/If a tenant is injured, can…
Litigation

If a tenant is injured, can the landlord and the property manager both be sued in Ontario?

TSL Written by the Treadstone Law team· Updated August 2026

Yes. Both a landlord and a separate property management company can potentially be named in the same claim if a tenant is injured, since both may qualify as an occupier under the Occupiers' Liability Act depending on their actual role and level of control over the property, not simply based on who holds legal title to the building. A property manager who handles day-to-day maintenance, inspections, and repair requests may bear direct responsibility for a hazard that fell squarely within its assigned duties, while the landlord who owns the building and delegated that role can still also remain liable, depending on the terms of the management agreement and how much oversight it actually retained.

Sorting out exactly who was responsible for what - a division of duties that is often set out in a management contract most tenants never actually see - is a key part of these claims. This is one of the reasons it is worth having a lawyer identify every potentially responsible party early on, rather than assuming only the landlord, or only the property manager, is actually in the picture.

Key takeaways

  • Both a landlord and a separate property manager can potentially be liable for the same injury.
  • Each party's responsibility depends on the actual control they had over the relevant area.
  • Management agreements often set out who handled maintenance and repairs.
  • Identifying every potentially responsible party early is an important step in these claims.
This is general information, not legal advice. It doesn’t create a lawyer–client relationship, and the rules can change. For advice on your situation, a Treadstone litigation lawyer can help.
Was this helpful?Share:

Go deeper

Still have questions?

Search 6,000 answers, or send yours to a Treadstone lawyer — we answer in plain language.

All answersStart a File →