Landlord-Tenant Law in Ontario Overview

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Landlord-Tenant Law in Ontario Overview

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is a Tenancy law in Ontario and it defines landlords and tenants are and sets rules around their rights and responsibilities, tenancy agreements, repairs and maintenance, eviction and tenancy termination, rent and utility costs, care homes, mobile home parks and land lease communities.

Landlord-Tenant Law in Ontario Overview
what a tenancy lawyer paralegal can advise about it?

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is a law that defines who landlords and tenants are and sets rules around their rights and responsibilities, tenancy agreements, repairs and maintenance, eviction and tenancy termination, rent and utility costs

Rent Increase Limits

When it comes to rent increases, the amount and frequency must conform to rent increase guidelines. These guidelines apply to most tenants living in rented homes, condos, and apartments.

Exceptions do exist, however. In some instances, you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for approval to raise the rent. Also, buildings built after November 15^th, 2018 are exempt from these guidelines.
Generally speaking, though, landlords can carry out a rent increase once per year, and a landlord must give their tenants ninety days’ notice in writing.
and maximum of rent increase would be %2.5

Ontario Lease or Rental Agreements

Landlords, according to the Ontario Tenant Act, must use the standard lease template. It must be written in language that is easy to understand and include important information such as:

The amount of rent and when it is due.
A section on what the rent includes. For example, parking, heating, or air conditioning.
Important rules, for example: whether subletting, smoking in or altering the rental unit is allowed or not.
The rights and responsibilities of each party to the lease.
When and for what reason the landlord can seek to enter the tenant’s premises.
The amount of the rent deposit and the time within which the tenant must move in.

The standard lease, however, doesn’t apply to certain homes: for instance, sites in land lease communities and mobile home parks, care homes, co-operative housing, and most social and supportive housing.

Eviction Rules

During an eviction, the landlord must follow the right process. For example, serving the tenant a written notice of termination as specified by the Landlord and Tenant Board. The form must state the reason for the eviction, such as non payment of rent.

And even so, the landlord must first get an order to terminate the lease from the Board.

If the landlord wants to use the rental unit for themselves, then they must give the tenant payment that is equal to one month’s rent. The landlord may also choose to offer an alternative unit.

Rent Withholding

Tenants aren’t permitted to withhold paying rent when repairs or renovations are needed. Rather, any reparation disputes with their landlords must be taken up with the Board.

Rent Withholding

according to landlord-Tenant law; Tenants aren’t permitted to withhold paying tenancy rent when repairs or renovations are needed. Rather, any reparation disputes with their landlords must be taken up with the Board. and taking an advise from tenancy lawyer or paralegal before that could help you win the case and save your money and time!

Jurisdiction of Small Claims (LTB Claims)

LTB has jurisdiction over all tenancy issues; however, as soon as tenancy terminates for some matters, you must go to other boards or tribunals, such as the small claim court. for example, when the tenant was vacant, abandoned the promisee, or after termination, the tenant owes you money yet.

In small claims court, you can sue for money or the return of personal property valued at $35,000 or less, not including interest and costs.

Small claims court handle disputes involving the recovery or payment or money and personal property under $35,000. at RioLaw® lawyers and paralegals work with clients in the Greater Toronto Area, especially Richmond Hill, Vaughan, Markham, North York, Aurora, and Newmarket, to file and defend small claims actions related to property damage, money owed, breach of contract, and more. Just because small claims court might seem like a minor issue, it doesn’t mean that you should enter one unprepared. We will defend your interests, and we will make sure that you get a fair hearing.

To sue a person or business in small claims court, your lawsuit, called a claim, must fall into one of the two following categories:

1. Claims for money owed under an agreement, such as,

unpaid accounts for goods or services sold and delivered
unpaid loans
unpaid rent
NSF (non-sufficient funds) cheques

2. Claims for damages, such as,

property damage
clothes damaged by a dry cleaner
personal injuries
breach of contract

If you want to sue for more than $35,000, you will have to take your case to the Superior Court of Justice

also remember that

The landlord has a limitation period of 2-years from the date of the incident to file a claim in Small Claims Court.

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termination-of-tenancy

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Tenant and Landlord

How a Landlord Can Go About Ending Tenancy in Ontario?

Picture this situation: You rent out your property, a tenant moves in, and you enter into a tenancy agreement, probably a fixed-term tenancy, but circumstances change, and you need your property back. You may wonder about how a landlord can end a tenancy in Ontario after a few months. What do you do?

Obviously, you don’t want to be the landlord who brushes off rules and deals badly with their tenants because this will definitely reflect badly on your business, not to mention the possibility of a conviction for breaking the law.

Can a landlord break a lease in Ontario? Absolutely yes. But before going ahead to terminate a residential tenancy, make sure your basis for doing it is rooted in the Residential Tenancies Act and the Rental Fairness Act.

Not sure how to go about the entire process? By the end of this article, you’ll have a better idea about how a landlord can end a tenancy in Ontario, in addition to knowing everything else in relation to ending a tenancy. We always recommend you get legal advice. This article is to provide general information.

What Reasons Do I Need to End a Tenancy Lease in Ontario?

The Residential Tenancies Act allows you to discontinue the tenancy early if your tenant, their guest, or anyone else who inhabits the rental unit does something they are not supposed to do or fails to do something expected of them.

‘For cause’ is the alternative term used to describe ending a tenancy this way. Common examples include when the tenant:

Fails to pay their rent in full or is always late in paying it
Causes damage to the rental property
Disturbs you or other tenants
Engages in illegal activity in the rental property or within the residential complex
Allows too many people to reside in the rental unit

The act also specifies additional reasons for terminating a tenancy that has nothing to do with what the tenant did or didn’t do. More often, they are called ‘no-fault’ reasons. Examples include:

When you plan to carry out major renovations or repairs that require a building permit. Usually, you won’t proceed with such work unless the rental property is empty.
When you, the landlord, want back the rental unit for your own use or for use by your immediate family member (i.e. spouse, child, parent, spouse’s child, or parent).
On September 1, 2017, the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board introduced new rules for landlords who would like to end a tenancy so they or their immediate family members can use the property, and the act includes the consequences for acting in bad faith.
When there’s an agreement to sell the property, and the buyer wants all or part of the property because they or an immediate member of their family wishes to use the property. Please check with the LTB as there may be some limitations.

How a Landlord Can End a Tenancy In Ontario

As you are about to learn, ending a tenancy lease can take place in various forms depending on the different situations that may arise during the process.

A residential tenancy in Ontario renews automatically unless the tenant or landlord sends a notice to terminate the agreement. They must sign a new agreement if they both agree to end the tenancy.

To end the rental period, your landlord must give you the notice 60 days before the expiration date using the Landlord and Tenant Board form. On the other hand, you also have the same responsibility (to hand over the notice 60 days before leaving the property). If both parties are not residing in a fixed-term agreement, the landlord must provide notice within 28 days and may not have a reason to evict the tenant.

Can You Agree With a Tenant to End Tenancy?

Yes. As a landlord, you can reach an agreement with your tenant to terminate the tenancy anytime, even within the time set in the lease.

Some landlords may choose to do this orally, but it’s best if you have a written agreement signed by both you and the tenant for the sake of any confusion that may arise later. You can use Form N11, which the board specifically made for this purpose.

When both of you agree the tenancy should come to an end and you’re all signed the form to end it, the tenant will then be required to move out of the rental unit by the date specified on the form.

Please note you can’t compel the tenant to sign the agreement to end the tenancy or, at the beginning of their tenancy, require them to sign an agreement to terminate the tenancy at a later date unless it’s a care home or student housing.

What if the Tenant Changes Their Mind?

Imagine a situation where a tenant changes their mind later after you reached an agreement. For example, they propose a new agreement that allows the tenancy to continue. What can you do about that?

Well, if you are comfortable with the new agreement, you can go right ahead and sign it. But in the event you don’t agree with it, meaning you still stand with the previous agreement, you can make an application to the Board requiring them to give you an order to evict the tenant.

However, note that they can make an application to the Board to stop the eviction if they feel they are being treated unfairly.

What is a month-to-month tenancy in Ontario?

A month-to-month tenancy starts automatically when the lease for a residential property expires and no new lease has been signed. A tenant with a month-to-month tenancy must give 30 days’ notice before moving out of the property.

When Do I Issue a Landlord Notice to End Tenancy In Ontario?

If you plan to discontinue the tenancy due to any of the reasons mentioned in the act, the first thing you are expected to do is issue a landlord notice to terminate the tenancy. Make sure you’ve given it to the tenant before the termination date because the act requires you to do so.

And since each reason requires its own special notice, ensure you’ve used the right form. Fill it out correctly and completely because the notice can easily be rendered void if all the required information is not present.

What is Done When a Landlord is Breaking a Lease in Ontario?

As a landlord, you will hopefully never be in a situation where your actions break your lease agreement and cause the tenant to become frustrated with the rental situation. This can happen, however, whether intentionally or not, so it is good to be informed about what would happen in this scenario.

Just as landlords are able to involve the Landlord Tenant Board to get help with tenant problems, tenants can do the same when their landlords break the rules. In this case, a tenant would take action with the Board to resolve the issue with you. This could mean terminating the lease agreement or simply having to pay a fee to cover the mistakes made.

Typically, a tenant cannot file this type of complaint or form with the Landlord Tenant Board until they give you written notice of their grievances, but this also depends on the cause for complaint.

To ensure you never end up in this situation, be sure you carefully follow your responsibilities as a landlord. If you find yourself in a difficult tenant disagreement, it can also be a good idea to hire a paralegal for legal advice on how to proceed with as few missteps as possible.

What if the Tenant Refuses to Leave After Receiving the Notice?

Something worth mentioning before we delve into that is if the notice you served your tenant requiring them to stop a certain behaviour or to undertake a particular action has been fully complied with, then the notice to end the tenancy is void. You can’t apply to evict them.

However, if they fail to comply by the stated deadline and they’ve refused to leave after the deadline, you have to apply to the Board for approval to terminate the tenancy.

Other reasons you need to make an application to the Board for approval to end a tenancy include if:

There’s an unauthorized occupant in the rental unit you want to evict
You have an agreement to end the tenancy and the tenant breached the terms
The tenant abandoned the rental property

The board will then make a decision once they’ve held a hearing, in which both of you are given a chance to explain your own side of the story.

Should the board issue an eviction order, you will require the help of a Sheriff to evict the tenant. Reading over the landlord rules in relation to evicting a tenant in Ontario covers the entire process in detail.

How Can A Landlord End A Tenancy In Ontario?

There are many reasons you might want to end a tenancy in Ontario. Perhaps a tenant has broken the terms of your lease agreement or has been late paying rent for months; on the flip side, you might want to end a lease agreement because you have decided to renovate the property as soon as possible.

In these cases, what do you do?

Here is the general process you must follow to end a tenancy in Ontario:

Notice Of Termination
First, you must send the required notice of termination to the tenant. The notice must include details about the when, why, and what is happening with the lease agreement.
Wait Period
Next, you must wait the required number of days for the tenant to either comply with the termination request or respond to you. The required time period depends on the type of notice and reason for termination of the tenancy agreement.
File With The Board
Once the allotted number of days has passed as outlined in your notice, you can file with the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario for an eviction hearing. The specific form you need to use will depend on the reason for eviction, and there may be an associated fee for filing.
Attend The Hearing
In cases where a hearing is necessary, you will need to prepare documentation to defend your claims for eviction. The board will determine, either with or without a hearing, what should happen in this situation.
Eviction
If the case is decided in your favour, the tenant should move out by the required date. If they do not, you can pay a fee and deliver your hearing decision to the local sheriff for assistance in evicting the tenant.

As mentioned, the specific steps that must be taken are going to depend on the type of eviction you are processing. In some cases, no notice will be required to be given to the tenant as their actions would have waived their right to notice. The case would instead immediately proceed to the Board for review.

With so many types of eviction, it can be complicated to know what is going to happen. Many landlords are fearful of eviction situations because of these complexities.

The key to successfully navigating any eviction situation is to proceed carefully, ask questions to the Board when necessary, and make sure you are following the procedures outlined by the Board exactly.

If you do this, you are unlikely to cause yourself any unnecessary delays that would make the eviction take longer than necessary.

How Much Notice Does A Landlord Have To Give A Tenant To Move Out In Ontario?

The amount of time required for a landlord to give a tenant notice is going to depend on the reason for the eviction notice and the rental period of the tenancy agreement.

If the tenant has broken the lease agreement or the basic proponents of the Residential Tenancies Act, the amount of time required on the notice of termination is usually between 10 and 20 days for all types of leases. This is the same if a tenant has not paid rent or has consistently paid rent late.

If the landlord wants to end the lease agreement in order to convert the property, do renovations, or otherwise take over primary control of the space, the notice periods are usually much longer.

For short-term leases like weekly agreements, the required time is 28 days’ notice. For a fixed period, long-term lease, the notice period necessary can range from 30 days to 120 days depending on the particulars of the situation.

To find out what type of notice is likely to be required in your situation, this guide from the LTB can help.

Can A Landlord Ask A Tenant To Move Out When A Lease Expires In Ontario?

Yes; a landlord can ask a tenant to move out when a lease expires in Ontario. However, that request must be done at the right time and handled properly in order to be considered legally valid. To understand what this means, you first have to understand what happens when a lease expires in Ontario.

When a lease is up, it is automatically converted into a month-to-month lease if the rent is typically paid monthly. A new lease agreement is not needed as the original terms still apply to both parties.

In some cases, the landlord and tenant will meet to renew the agreement as a long-term lease agreement or even sign a new lease completely. If not, the lease automatically becomes a month-to-month lease.

If a landlord wants the tenant to move out at the end of the lease period, they need to follow the same rules for giving notice to their tenant as they would for any other no-fault eviction reason. This means that if a landlord wants a tenant to leave when their lease expires, they will need to give them early notice about why and when they are expected to move out according to the laws outlined by the Residential Tenancies Act.

A landlord cannot simply expect a tenant to move out without notice at the end of the original lease unless this was previously agreed upon by both parties.

Can A Landlord Terminate A Month-To-Month Lease In Ontario?

Yes; a landlord can terminate a month-to-month lease in Ontario as long as the reason for lease termination is legal, appropriate, and processed the right way.

The applicable reasons for lease termination do not change based on the time period of the lease agreement; the only thing that may change is the amount of notice that must be given to tenants in order to terminate the tenancy.

For some cases where the lease has been broken, the notice time period does not typically change from one type of lease to another. For situations where the landlord wants to regain primary control of the property, the amount of time required to be given is likely to be lower for month-to-month leases in comparison to year-long agreements. Weekly and daily leases would require even less notice.

Landlords Ending Tenancy In Ontario: The Takeaway

When dealing with difficult tenants, ending a tenancy can easily turn out to be a complex and tiring process, but you can manage it better and easily get back your property by choosing to follow the required procedures on how a landlord can end a tenancy in Ontario, which the Board specifies clearly and in a satisfactory manner.

Now that you have a better understanding of how the termination of lease typically works, it will be more comfortable to navigate that situation if you ever end up needing to evict a tenant.

Is there a way to prevent such a situation from happening in the first place? Absolutely yes.

Besides the ‘no-fault’ reasons, the rest of the reasons why you may want to discontinue a tenancy are mostly a result of the behaviour of the tenant, a situation you can easily avoid by enlisting the help of a property management company whose role is to screen tenants and ensure they are not the type who would trigger the need for ending a tenancy.

in some cases, other laws and regulations must be applied
in fact, some document needs some compliance with the law prior to Notarization

ATTENTION

In some cases, other laws and regulations must be applied some document needs some compliance with the law before legal action *** Please Contact for legal advice regarding Tenancy ***

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Landlord-Tenant Law in Ontario Overview

Landlord-Tenant Law in Ontario Overviewwhat a tenancy lawyer paralegal can advise about it?

Rent Increase Limits

Rent Withholding

Jurisdiction of Small Claims (LTB Claims)

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Termination-of-Tenancy

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Tenant and Landlord

How a Landlord Can Go About Ending Tenancy in Ontario?

What Reasons Do I Need to End a Tenancy Lease in Ontario?

How a Landlord Can End a Tenancy In Ontario

Can You Agree With a Tenant to End Tenancy?

What if the Tenant Changes Their Mind?

What is a month-to-month tenancy in Ontario?

When Do I Issue a Landlord Notice to End Tenancy In Ontario?

What is Done When a Landlord is Breaking a Lease in Ontario?

What if the Tenant Refuses to Leave After Receiving the Notice?

How Can A Landlord End A Tenancy In Ontario?

How Much Notice Does A Landlord Have To Give A Tenant To Move Out In Ontario?

Can A Landlord Ask A Tenant To Move Out When A Lease Expires In Ontario?

Can A Landlord Terminate A Month-To-Month Lease In Ontario?

Landlords Ending Tenancy In Ontario: The Takeaway

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