Renting in Ontario comes with a robust set of legal protections that every tenant should know.
Whether you’re signing your first lease or have been renting for years, understanding your rights under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) can save you from unfair treatment and give you peace of mind.
From restrictions on rent increases to protections against unlawful evictions, the RTA sets clear boundaries for landlords.
Uncover 14 surprising things that Ontario landlord laws legally prohibit landlords from doing, empowering you to take control of your tenancy.
Table of Contents
1. Entering Your Home Without Proper Notice
Your rental unit is your sanctuary, and Ontario law ensures landlords respect your privacy.
Under the RTA, landlords must provide at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering your unit, specifying the reason, date, and a time window between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Legitimate reasons include repairs, inspections, showing the unit to potential buyers or lenders, or other purposes outlined in your lease agreement.
Exceptions exist, such as emergencies (e.g., floods, fires, or gas leaks), tenant consent at the time of entry, routine cleaning (if specified in the lease), or showing the unit to prospective tenants after a mutual agreement to end the tenancy.
Even in these cases, landlords must make a reasonable effort to inform you and adhere to the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. timeframe.
Unauthorized entry is a serious violation of your rights, and you can file a complaint with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) if it occurs.
2. Raising Rent at Will
Landlords in Ontario cannot increase your rent whenever they please.
The RTA enforces a 12-month rule, allowing rent increases only once every 12 months for the same tenant in the same unit.
For new tenants, the first increase can’t occur until 12 months after move-in.
Landlords must provide 90 days’ written notice and adhere to the provincial rent increase guideline, which is 2.5% for 2025 and will drop to 2.1% in 2026.
Some units built after November 15, 2018, are exempt from rent control, so always verify your building’s status and request written confirmation.
Knowing these limits ensures you’re not overpaying or blindsided by sudden increases.
3. Evicting You Without Cause
Evictions in Ontario follow a strict legal process.
Landlords cannot force you out without a valid reason, such as unpaid rent, significant property damage, or personal use of the unit by the landlord or their immediate family.
Even with a valid reason, they must issue a proper written notice using the correct LTB form, wait out the required notice period, and apply to the LTB for an eviction order if you don’t leave voluntarily.
Only a sheriff can enforce an eviction after an LTB hearing and approval. Any attempt to bypass this process, such as changing locks or pressuring you to leave, is illegal and actionable.
4. Cutting Off Essential Services
Your landlord cannot withhold vital services like heat, water, electricity, or gas, even if you’re behind on rent.
The RTA guarantees these services until a sheriff enforces an eviction order.
If a landlord fails to pay a utility bill they’re responsible for, causing a cutoff, it’s treated as an intentional withholding.
Tenants can report such violations to the LTB or the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit for swift action.
Access to these services is non-negotiable, ensuring your home remains safe and habitable.
5. Changing Locks Without Providing New Keys
Landlords are prohibited from changing locks on your rental unit or shared building areas without immediately providing you with replacement keys.
While they don’t need your prior consent to change locks, ensuring you retain access is mandatory.
If you’re locked out due to a landlord’s oversight, you can seek recourse through the LTB to restore access and address the violation.
6. Enforcing a Blanket Pet Ban
Love your furry friend?
Good news: Ontario landlords cannot enforce a no-pets clause in your lease under the RTA.
You’re free to keep pets unless they pose a specific problem, such as being dangerous, causing damage, creating excessive noise, or triggering severe allergies for other tenants.
In such cases, landlords may issue a Form N5 and pursue eviction through the LTB.
However, if you live in a condo, the rules differ.
The Condominium Act requires compliance with the building’s by-laws, which may restrict pets.
Always check your condo’s regulations to avoid surprises.
For non-condo rentals, your right to pets is protected, giving you freedom to enjoy your companions.
7. Demanding Illegal Deposits or Fees
When signing a lease, landlords can only request a last month’s rent deposit, capped at one month’s rent (or one rental period).
This deposit must be applied to your final rent payment, not to cover damages, cleaning, or other costs.
Landlords are also required to pay annual interest on this deposit at a provincially set rate.
If they fail to do so, you can deduct the interest from future rent payments.
If your rent increases, landlords may ask you to top up the deposit, but no other deposits or fees (e.g., for pets or keys) are permitted under the RTA.
8. Ignoring Maintenance Requests
Landlords are legally obligated to keep your rental unit in good repair and compliant with health, safety, and maintenance standards, regardless of whether you knew about issues before moving in.
This responsibility persists even if you’re late on rent.
If your landlord ignores requests for necessary repairs—such as fixing a leaky faucet or addressing mold—you can escalate the issue to the LTB.
Prompt maintenance is your right, ensuring a safe and comfortable living environment.
9. Harassing or Intimidating You
Your home should be a place of peace, and the RTA protects you from landlord harassment, intimidation, or interference with your quiet enjoyment.
Whether it’s excessive visits, threatening language, or other disruptive behavior, such actions are illegal.
If you experience harassment, document the incidents and file a complaint with the LTB, which can order the landlord to cease or impose penalties.
Your right to a calm and secure home is non-negotiable.
10. Forcing You to Sign a New Lease
When your fixed-term lease expires, it automatically transitions to a month-to-month tenancy under the same terms, unless you voluntarily sign a new fixed-term lease.
Landlords cannot pressure you to renew or sign a new agreement.
This flexibility allows you to stay in your home without committing to a new long-term lease, giving you greater control over your tenancy.
11. Retaliating for Complaints
Exercising your rights shouldn’t come with consequences.
If you report your landlord to a government authority for violating health, safety, housing, or maintenance laws, they cannot evict you in retaliation.
The RTA mandates that the LTB dismiss any eviction attempt deemed retaliatory.
This protection encourages tenants to advocate for their rights without fear of reprisal, ensuring accountability for landlords.
12. Forcing You Out for Renovations Without Due Process
Renovations don’t give landlords a free pass to evict you.
If major renovations require you to vacate, landlords must issue a Form N13 notice and apply to the LTB for approval.
The renovations must be extensive enough to make the unit unsafe to occupy.
You also have the right to return at the same rent once the work is complete, provided you notify your landlord in writing before moving out.
To combat bad-faith “renovictions,” Toronto introduced a Rental Renovation Licence By-law in November 2024, effective July 31, 2025.
This by-law strengthens tenant protections, ensuring landlords follow proper procedures and don’t exploit renovations to displace tenants.
13. Charging Extra for Included Services
If your lease includes utilities like heat or water, landlords cannot charge extra for these services unless explicitly stated and agreed upon before signing.
Similarly, they’re responsible for basic repairs and maintenance without passing costs to you.
Any attempt to impose additional fees for standard services violates the RTA, and you can challenge it through the LTB.
14. Requiring Specific Payment Methods
Landlords cannot mandate post-dated cheques or pre-authorized debits as a condition of renting.
You have the freedom to choose how you pay your rent, whether by cheque, e-transfer, or another method.
This flexibility ensures you’re not locked into payment methods that may be inconvenient or risky.
Empowering Yourself as a Tenant Through Ontario Landlord Laws
Understanding these 14 prohibitions under the RTA equips you to navigate your tenancy with confidence.
Whether you’re dealing with an overzealous landlord or simply want to know your rights, the RTA provides a strong framework to protect you.
If you suspect a violation, don’t hesitate to contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit.
For more details, review the full Residential Tenancies Act on the Ontario government website.
By knowing these rules, you can advocate for yourself, avoid unfair treatment, and enjoy your rental home with peace of mind.
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