East York Tenants Group

The Residential Tenancies Act 2006 identifies 38 core offences that apply to residential tenancies.  These offences are identified in the document titled “The Residential Tenancies Act Offences” and can be accessed at the link below:

http://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/06r17

Violations of the Residential Tenancies Act:

A violation against the RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT occurs if the landlord, the landlord’s agent or the superintendent:

• entered your rental unit illegally
• changed the locking system without giving you replacement keys
• seriously interfered with the reasonable enjoyment of the rental unit or the complex by you or a member of your household
• withheld or interfered with vital services, care services, or meals
• harassed, interfered with, obstructed, coerced or threatened you

The tenant can also apply to have the Landlord and Tenant Board determine whether the landlord:

• did not give you a written copy of your tenancy agreement for your care home or, the tenancy agreement did not include information about the care services and meals and/or the charges that you and the landlord agreed to
• did not give you 72 hours to get your property after the Sheriff evicted you or, the landlord sold, kept or disposed of your property during this 72 hour period.

The violations above represent only a small sample of various violations landlords commit. A more detailed list of violations can be accessed in the  Form T2 application.

Filing the Form T2 application  is a very effective way of dealing with landlords who repeatedly ignore your requests for repairs or violate any section of the Residential Tenancies Act. You file a Form T2 application directly with the Landlord and Tenant Board.  You will be required to attend a hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board  and, if the board rules in your favour, you may be awarded financial compensation and the landlord may also be required to pay a fine.

A tenant can also file a T6 [Application about Maintenance] which is a form that allows a tenant to file a complaint with the Landlord and Tenants Board (Board) if “the landlord has not properly maintained or repaired” your unit or the residential complex. The T6 also allows the complainant to request financial compensation for the violation of the maintenance standard. You can access the T6 form at this link: http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb/forms-filing/#tenant-forms

Maintenance violations covered under the T6 application relate specifically to health, safety, housing/maintenance standard. The information page at the Board identifies some items that can be associated with maintenance violations tenants could use as a guide when filing a T6 application. As you will observe, the T6 application is more complex than the T2 and it is usually initiated by a group of tenants complaining about a violation that affects most, if not all, tenants in a building. It is highly recommended you seek legal advice when filing a Form T6.

 Reporting an offence:

There are two processes available to you to report an offence:

1. Investigation & Enforcement Unit
777 Bay Street, 12th Floor
Toronto, ON  M5G 2E5
Phone:  416-585-7214 or toll-free: 1-888-772-9277

You are required to submit the report of an offence in writing to the Investigation & Enforcement Unit.  Your complaint will be investigated at no cost to you. There are financial penalties against offenders if convicted.

AND/OR

2. Landlord and Tenant Board
Toronto South Region (for East York tenants)
2nd Floor, 79 St. Clair Ave. E
Toronto, ON  M4T 1M6
Phone: 416-645-8080 or toll free at 1-888-332-3234
Visit their website at

Here is the link to the Landlord and Tenant Board: www.LTB.gov.on.ca

You can view The Residential Tenancies Act at: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_06r17_e.htm

If after numerous complaints your landlord won’t do necessary repairs you can also contact the Municipal Licensing and Standards Department – (Toronto and East York District) at:  416-397-9200 and have a building inspector sent to your building.

NOTE – Check this City of Toronto Apartment Standards link for information on by-law enforcement and property standards: http://www.toronto.ca/apartmentstandards/home.htm
Useful information is available on: processing complaints, maintenance request forms and history of by-law violations. There is also a section on FAQs at this link: http://www.toronto.ca/apartmentstandards/faq.htm

For a comprehensive list of maintenance violations and remedies available to tenants check here:  http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/STEL02_111890.html. Landlords are also required to abide by the minimum standards for maintenance and upkeep set out in municipal bylaws.

Note – Additional information is also available at the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing at this link: http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page142.aspx)

________________________________________________________________________________________________

NOTE – We would appreciate it if you notify us of any errors, omissions or broken links.