What the Residential Tenancies Act Says About Your Rights in Ontario

If you rent a home in Ontario, or rent one out, one statute sets most of the ground rules: the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. People often search for the landlord and tenant board act when they want to know what it actually says about rent, entry, repairs and eviction.

This article gives a plain summary of the main rules and who the Act covers. It is general information, not advice on your situation. Your lease, your type of housing and the dates involved can change the answer.

Who the Act covers

Landlords and tenants of most rental units are covered by most of the Act's rules. Rental units include apartments, houses, and rooms in rooming or boarding houses.

The Act also applies to care homes, retirement homes, and sites in mobile home parks and land lease communities. It came into effect on January 31, 2007.

Rent increases and deposits

A landlord needs at least 12 months since the tenant moved in or since the last increase, plus at least 90 days' written notice. The Ontario Government sets the rent increase guideline each year.

A rent deposit can only be used for the last month's (or week's) rent. Where rent is paid monthly, it cannot exceed one month's rent.

There is an exception for a unit that was not occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018. It may be exempt from the guideline. Notice is still required, but there is no limit on the size of the increase.

Entry, services and the lease

• A landlord may generally enter only after giving 24 hours' written notice that states the reason, and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m..
• A landlord cannot shut off vital services: heat from September 1 to June 15, electricity, fuel, and hot or cold water.
• Most tenancy agreements first entered into on or after April 30, 2018 must use the Standard Form of Lease.
• A copy of any written lease must be given to the tenant within 21 days.

When the Act does not apply, or applies less

The Act does not apply if the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or with the owner's family members.

Non-profit, public, university and college residences are treated differently. Many of the Act's rent rules do not apply, but these units are still covered by most of the other rules, such as maintenance and eviction. Whether a particular arrangement falls inside or outside the Act depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

If you disagree with an LTB order

There are three ways to have a Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) order changed. A Request to Amend fixes clerical errors, with a deadline of 30 days after the order and no fee. A Request to Review goes to the LTB. An appeal goes to the Divisional Court.

For orders issued on or after July 1, 2026, a Request to Review must be filed within 15 days of the order. For orders issued before July 1, 2026, the deadline is 30 days. An appeal to the Divisional Court is only on a question of law and must be made within 30 days after the order.

Older brochures and third-party pages may still show the earlier deadline and broader review grounds, so check the date of whatever you are reading.

What to do next

• Read your lease and note the move-in date, the date of the last rent increase and who lives in the unit.
• Keep copies of every notice you give or receive, with dates.
• Check whether your situation fits an exception, such as a shared kitchen or bathroom.
• If you have an LTB order, write down its date today, because the deadlines are short.
• Free help is available: the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario for tenants and the Landlord Self-Help Centre for small landlords, both funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

If the stakes are high or the facts are unclear, a lawyer can review your documents and explain how the Act applies.

Frequently asked questions