Ontario Tenant Rights: Complete Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act (2026)

Ontario has some of the strongest tenant protections in Canada. The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) governs nearly every aspect of the landlord-tenant relationship: from how much your rent can increase to the exact form your landlord must use to evict you. This guide covers the main rules in plain language; the same topics for other provinces are in the renting in Canada hub, with guides for BC, Alberta and Quebec. The federal Renters’ Bill of Rights blueprint sets out principles but doesn’t change these rules.

The Residential Tenancies Act and the LTB

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 is the legislation that protects most Ontario tenants. It covers apartments, houses, condominiums, and basement units. Exemptions include university/college residences, co-op housing, and commercial tenancies.

The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal that resolves disputes between landlords and tenants. Both landlords and tenants can file applications. Decisions are legally binding and, in some cases, enforceable by the sheriff.

Rent Increases in Ontario

The Annual Guideline

• The rent increase guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027.
• Units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline.
• Rent can go up once every 12 months, with at least 90 days' written notice on the proper form.
• The guideline doesn't apply when a unit is rented to a new tenant: the landlord and new tenant agree on the rent.
• The guideline also doesn't cover community housing units, long-term care homes or commercial properties, and social housing has its own rules.
• A landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for approval to raise the rent by more than the guideline.

Source: Ontario government.

Ontario’s guideline by year, with average rents and vacancy, is on the Ontario rental market page, part of the rent and vacancy data section; the province-by-province comparison shows where Ontario’s guideline sits against the other limits.

Above-Guideline Increases (AGI)

A landlord can apply to the LTB for an above-guideline increase if they have made extraordinary capital expenditures (major renovations, new roofs, new boilers) or experienced significant increases in municipal taxes. If the LTB approves an AGI, the increase is applied to all units in the building.

You have the right to dispute an AGI application. The LTB will schedule a hearing where you can present evidence.

Units Exempt from Rent Control

Units first occupied for residential purposes after the date in the rules above are exempt from the guideline: the landlord can raise the rent by any amount, but still only once every 12 months and with written notice on the proper form. Checking when your unit was first occupied tells you which rule applies.

Landlord’s Right to Enter Your Unit

An Ontario landlord generally needs to give 24 hours’ written notice of entry, stating the reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.; no notice is needed in an emergency or when you agree to the entry. Repeated entry without proper notice can be raised with the LTB on a T2 application about tenant rights. The full rules, and how other provinces compare, are on what to do if your landlord enters without notice.

Your Right to a Maintained Unit

Section 20 of the RTA requires your landlord to keep the unit and building in good repair and comply with all health, safety, and housing standards. This obligation exists regardless of whether you knew about problems when you moved in.

Common maintenance issues landlords must address:

• Heat: units must be kept at a minimum of 21°C between September 1 and June 15
• Pest control: landlords are responsible for extermination
• Plumbing, electrical, and structural integrity
• Common areas (hallways, elevators, parking)

What to Do If Your Landlord Won’t Make Repairs

1. Put the request in writing (email or text) and keep copies
2. Contact your municipality: bylaw officers can inspect and issue work orders
3. File a T6 application with the LTB for a maintenance order and potential rent abatement
4. In extreme cases, call 311 (in Toronto) or your local bylaw department

Eviction Notices in Ontario

A landlord cannot evict you without following a specific legal process. There is no such thing as a verbal eviction notice.

Common N-Forms Used to Evict Tenants

The Eviction Process

1. Landlord serves the correct N-form notice
2. You can void an N4 by paying the full amount owed before the termination date in the notice
3. If you don’t vacate, the landlord must apply to the LTB for an eviction order (Form L1 or L2)
4. The LTB schedules a hearing: you can attend and contest the eviction
5. If the LTB issues an eviction order and you don’t leave, the landlord must hire the sheriff to enforce it: your landlord cannot remove you, change the locks, or remove your belongings themselves

Special Protections: N12 Own-Use Evictions

If you receive an N12 (landlord or family moving in), you are entitled to one month’s free rent as compensation. The person moving in must genuinely move in within a reasonable time. If they don’t (i.e., the landlord re-rents immediately at a higher price), you can file a T5 application about a notice given in bad faith.

Last Month’s Rent Deposit

Ontario landlords can collect a last month’s rent deposit but not a separate damage or security deposit. The deposit is applied to your last month’s rent and earns interest each year at the rent increase guideline. The limits, interest and how other provinces handle deposits are on deposit rules by province.

Domestic Violence: Early Lease Termination

A tenant who has experienced domestic or sexual violence can end an Ontario tenancy early with 28 days’ notice on Form N15. How it works, and the similar exits in other provinces, are on breaking a lease early.

Filing an Application With the LTB

Tenant applications are filed through the Tribunals Ontario portal, and a filing fee applies (the LTB lists the current fees). Common tenant applications:

The forms and instructions are on the LTB forms page. Hearings can take months to schedule, so filing promptly matters.

Key Takeaways

• Rent for most sitting tenants can rise only by the yearly guideline, once every 12 months, with written notice; newer units are exempt from the guideline
• Landlords need an LTB order to evict you: a notice form alone does not end your tenancy
• Your landlord must maintain the unit and common areas regardless of what your lease says
• A last month’s rent deposit is allowed and earns interest; a separate damage deposit isn’t
• If your rights are violated, you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board

For province-wide rent increase rules, see our rent increase rules by province guide. If you’re thinking about leaving early, read our guide on how to break a lease early in Canada. For full financial guidance on renting, visit our renting hub.