What can a seller do if a tenant refuses to allow showings while the property is listed for sale?

A tenant cannot simply refuse a showing that was properly noticed under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, but a seller also cannot force entry or let themselves and prospective buyers in without following the notice rules, regardless of how frustrating a refusal is during an active sale. Self-help entry, even to accommodate a listing, is not the landlord's remedy under Ontario law.

If a tenant is genuinely refusing entry that was properly noticed and scheduled at a reasonable time, the seller's proper recourse is to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board rather than attempting to enter anyway, since that process, not direct confrontation, is how Ontario law resolves this kind of dispute. In practice, many sellers manage this by communicating clearly and cooperatively with the tenant well in advance, sometimes offering flexibility on timing to reduce friction, since a contested access dispute can slow down a sale and create a difficult atmosphere for everyone involved. Document all notices and any refusals in writing, since this record matters if the dispute needs to go further.