Tenant Rights in Ontario: What Every Newcomer Must Know
Ontario has some of the strongest tenant protections in North America. Here is what you need to know about your rights before signing a lease.
Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act
Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) provides strong protections for tenants — but only if you know your rights. Many newcomers, eager to secure housing and reluctant to cause friction with landlords, unknowingly accept conditions that are actually illegal under Ontario law.
Your Key Rights as a Tenant
Rent Increase Limits
Your landlord cannot increase your rent by more than the provincial rent increase guideline unless they obtain approval from the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). For 2026, the guideline is 2.5%. Any notice of rent increase must be given in writing at least 90 days in advance.
Entry Notice
Your landlord must provide 24 hours written notice before entering your unit, except in genuine emergencies. A landlord who repeatedly enters without notice is violating your right to quiet enjoyment and may be subject to LTB remedy orders.
Last Month's Rent Deposit
Your landlord may only ask for a last month's rent deposit — they cannot ask for a damage deposit, cleaning deposit, or any other deposit. If they do, they are violating the RTA.
Eviction Process
A landlord cannot evict you without an LTB order. Even if you have missed rent, they cannot change your locks, remove your belongings, or shut off utilities. If this happens to you, contact the LTB immediately and document everything.
If You Have a Dispute
The Landlord and Tenant Board is the quasi-judicial body that resolves disputes between landlords and tenants in Ontario. Filing an application costs $53 for most tenant applications. Legal representation is not mandatory, but it significantly improves outcomes in complex cases.
Our firm at Murugan & Associates handles landlord-tenant disputes alongside our immigration practice. If you are facing an illegal eviction, rent increase dispute, or other tenancy issue, contact us through our Tamil Canadians profile for a consultation.