June 12th, 2015

Tenants Rights When Renting In Ontario

Tenancy laws are in place to protect renters rights when leasing an apartment or home. Without knowledge of your rights landlords may be violating yours. Below are some common questions and misconceptions about leasing. 

What are the rules about rental deposits?

There is much confusion about what a landlord can hold a deposit for. Some landlords or property managers will ask for a deposit for keys or pet damages. In Ontario Canada a key deposit is only applicable if additional keys are required. 

A tenant may voluntarily offer a deposit against pet damages but tenancy shouldn’t be based on having one. 

The maximum amount a tenant should be asked to pay for a deposit is the equivalent of one month's rent. Which is typically applied against their last month of tenancy.


How much notice does the tenant need to give before ending their lease?

If the tenants have signed a 1yr lease they may not be able to terminate that lease before the year is up. The earliest the tenants could give notice on a yearly lease and on a month to month basis is 60 days prior to the anniversary of their lease. Anything shorter must get approval from the landlord tenant board or the consent of the property owner or manager.

Does a landlord need to give notice to enter a unit?

In most cases a landlord or property manager must give proper notice before entering a rental dwelling. This notice consists of at least 24 hrs. prior to the visit and it should be hand delivered or posted on the door of the unit. The only circumstances that could supersede that is  if a emergency situation was presented. 

How long should a tenant expect to wait for repairs to be performed?

If it is an emergency (not leaky faucet) such as a burst pipe the tenant should be able to contact the landlord or manager and expect prompt response to the situation. Depending on the severity of the complaint the tenant should use reasonable judgement as to how fast it should be addressed. If renters feel they are being neglected they should contact the landlord again or the landlord tenant board of Ontario for assistance.


Final thoughts

Having a successful experience renting will depend largely on communication and consideration towards all parties involved. It is mutually beneficial that things run well and needs are met. Help do your part to create a win win situation.