Filing a T2 Application for Landlord Harassment in Ontario

If your landlord is harassing you, entering without proper notice, or has locked you out or cut off a service, it can feel like you have nowhere to turn. In Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is where many of these disputes are decided.

This article explains what rules landlords must follow, how to file a T2 application, how to build your evidence and what to expect. What the LTB can order in your case depends on the facts, so a lawyer or tenant legal clinic can help you assess it.

Rules landlords must follow

A landlord may generally enter your unit only after giving 24 hours' written notice stating the reason, and only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.. Landlords also cannot shut off vital services, which include heat from September 1 to June 15, electricity, fuel, and hot or cold water.

These rules come from the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which covers most rental units, including apartments, houses and rooms in rooming or boarding houses. It does not apply if you must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or the owner's family. Whether a particular act amounts to harassment or interference is for the LTB to decide.

Keep a record from the start

Good records make a real difference at a hearing. Start them as soon as problems begin, and keep adding to them.

• A dated log of each incident, including what was said or done
• Texts, emails, voicemails and letters from your landlord
• Photos or video, such as a changed lock or a disconnected service
• Names of anyone who saw what happened
• Receipts for extra costs, such as a hotel stay or repairs
• Your lease and any notices you received

How to file your T2 application

The Tribunals Ontario Portal can be used to submit applications, check file status, upload evidence and see whether an order has been issued, and it is encouraged for T2 applications. Applications can also be filed in person at ServiceOntario locations (filing only), or by mail or courier to 15 Grosvenor Street, Ground Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2G6.

Complete the form carefully and describe what happened in order, with dates. If you are unsure how to fill it in, LTB Contact Centre staff can give information, though not legal advice. You can call toll-free at 1-888-332-3234 or, in the Toronto area, 416-645-8080, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

Hearing, evidence and waiting times

The LTB says hearings for most application types other than L1 and L9 are scheduled 5 to 7 months out, and most decisions issue within 30 days of the hearing. These times were stated by the LTB and may change. You should wait at least two months after filing before checking status.

Your evidence must be disclosed 7 days before the hearing, and responding evidence 5 days before, unless the LTB orders otherwise. A party who does not comply may be barred from relying on that evidence. Hearing evidence can be emailed to LTB.Evidence@ontario.ca with the file number and hearing date in the subject line, or uploaded through the portal.

What remedies the LTB may order depends on the facts and the findings made at the hearing, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer what you can realistically ask for.

What to do next

• Write down what has happened and collect your proof
• If your safety is at risk or you are locked out, get help right away from the appropriate emergency services or a legal clinic
• Contact the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, which is funded by Legal Aid Ontario
• File through the Tribunals Ontario Portal if you can
• If an order is made, note the review and appeal deadlines

Frequently asked questions