Editor's note, October 6, 2026: this article was reviewed and rewritten in our accuracy check. An earlier version contained hearing wait times, award amounts and a heating rule that has since changed; they have been removed or replaced with figures from the sources listed at the end of the article.
Most Ontario tenants are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), and disputes are decided by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). These are the rules that matter most.
Rent increases
- The guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. By law it can't exceed 2.5%.
- Rent can rise only once every 12 months, with at least 90 days' written notice (usually Form N1).
- Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline, but the 12-month and 90-day rules still apply.
- A landlord can apply to the LTB for an above-guideline increase for things like major repairs; increases for capital expenditures or security services are capped at 3% above the guideline in a year.
Eviction needs an LTB order
A notice from your landlord is not an eviction. The usual steps are a notice of termination, then an application to the LTB, a hearing, and an order. Only the Court Enforcement Office (the sheriff) can enforce an eviction order. Common notices:
- N4, non-payment of rent: paying the full amount owing before the termination date voids the notice, and you can still raise issues or ask for a payment plan at the hearing.
- N5, interference or damage: for a first notice, you can usually void it by stopping the conduct or paying for the damage within the period stated.
- N12, landlord's or purchaser's own use: at least 60 days, ending at the end of a period or term, with compensation of one month's rent; the person moving in must intend to live there for at least a year.
- N13, demolition, conversion or extensive repairs: longer notice and specific compensation or first-refusal rights apply.
If you think a notice was given in bad faith, for example an N12 where nobody moved in, you can apply to the LTB.
Deposits
A landlord may require a rent deposit of no more than one month's rent, used for your last month, with interest paid yearly at the guideline rate (2.1% in 2026). A refundable key deposit is allowed. Damage and security deposits are not.
Repairs and maintenance
Your landlord must keep the unit and building in a good state of repair and meet health, safety and maintenance standards, even if you knew about a problem when you moved in. Put repair requests in writing and keep copies. If problems aren't fixed, you can call your municipality's property standards office, and you can apply to the LTB (Form T6) for orders and a rent abatement. In Toronto, landlords must keep rental units at a minimum of 21°C from October 1 to May 15 (the City's heating by-law dates changed in 2026).
Entry and privacy
- A landlord generally needs 24 hours' written notice, between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., stating the reason, for things like repairs, inspections or showing the unit to a potential buyer.
- No notice is needed in an emergency, or if you consent at the time.
- Once a notice to end the tenancy has been given, a landlord may show the unit to prospective tenants between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. after making a reasonable effort to tell you.
Illegal evictions and harassment
Changing the locks without an LTB order, cutting off vital services, or harassing a tenant to leave are offences. The maximum fines are $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a corporation. Report offences to Ontario's Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at (888) 772-9277, and apply to the LTB about your tenancy rights (Form T2).
Where to get help
- The LTB's brochures and forms explain each process.
- Community legal clinics (through Legal Aid Ontario) advise tenants for free.
- Your municipality enforces property standards and, in Toronto, the heating by-law.
Read more about the 2.1% rent increase guideline, or ask Zara, Summitly's AI virtual agent. This is general information, not legal advice.
