East York Tenants Group

(UPDATE on complaints re. Balcony Renovations – refer to our link below: https://eastyorktenantsgroup.com/2019/09/12/balcony-renovations-and-above-guideline-increases/ )

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HOW TO RESOLVE YOUR COMPLAINTS

1.     Determine whether your repairs are Emergency Repairs or Regular Repairs

This table below provides examples of these two types of repairs:

Source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) website:

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/rental-housing/i-am-renting/maintenance-repairs

The above CMHC link also provides advice and guidance to tenants on how to resolve both types of repair problems.

There are also other building maintenance issues:

     a) Tenants are subjected to annoying noises associated with aging pipes/ plumbing and elevators or malfunctioning heating systems that interfere with the quality of life of tenants. Some of these noises can be related to lack of soundproofing.

     b) The building has inadequate and irregular garbage disposal that tempts tenants to scavenge discarded items and store these in their units. This could have implications for health and safety of residents. 

     c) Nowadays many tenants are faced with bed bug and cockroach infestation that can take a toll on their daily lives. Some landlords do not take this problem as seriously as they should. For more information on this issue check this link: Cockroach & Bed bug pests

     d) We also must not overlook the question of security as it relates to malfunctioning security cameras and tenant safety. These types of maintenance issues should be handled in a similar manner as all types of repairs.(SPECIAL NOTE: Information related to noise violations committed by tenants is available at our link Problem Tenants.)

2.    Next, submit complaints in writing to the landlord/property manager and make sure you keep a copy for your files. Here is a link to a sample complaint letter:  https://eastyorktenantsgroup.com/residential-tenancy-act/repairs-and-maintenance-complaints/complaint-letters/.  It is very important to keep accurate documentation related to your complaint. Some landlords tend to ignore verbal complaints. In addition to your letters of complaint you should maintain a complaints log of events where you document everything related to your complaint. NOTE – Refer to this FMTA publication How To Get Repairs done: https://www.torontotenants.org/how_to_get_repairs_done

3.    Acquaint yourself with the extensive list of various offences under the Residential Tenancies Act at this link: Offences and Violations by Landlords

4.    Make sure to check out your local community centre where services are provided in several languages. Go to our Community Centres link where we have listed some of the community centres located in Beaches-East York. In addition, you can also get in touch with FMTA  (Federation of Metro Tenants Association) which is an organization that helps tenants establish tenant associations as well as provide various services for tenants across the GTA.

5.   If all your efforts are to no avail then, as a last resort, do not hesitate to file a T2 or T6 application at the Landlord and Tenant Board at this link: http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb/forms-filing/#tenant-forms. Ask the board for financial compensation from the landord and also request that the landlord pay a fine to the Board.

You can download a copy of the T2 or T6 form at these links below:

T2 or T6 applications
http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb/forms-filing/#tenant-forms

NOTES: 
(1) The Residential Tenancies Act allows tenants to file a T6 application (Tenant Application about Maintenance) to resolve outstanding maintenance violations.  Since the T6 form is much more complex than the T2 form tenants should check this Landlord and Tenant Board  link to obtain detailed instructions on how to proceed with filing a Form T6. DO NOT WITHHOLD YOUR RENT AS THIS COULD LEAD TO EVICTION. There is a provision under the Residential Tenancies Act that allows you to pay rent directly to the Landlord and Tenants Board and not to the problem landlord. The Board has provided the Request to Pay Rent to the Board form for that purpose and that can be obtained at this link:  http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/documents/ltb/Other%20Forms/Request%20to%20Pay%20Rent%20to%20the%20Board%20on%20a%20Tenant%20Application%20About%20Maintenance.pdf?20b805.

It is also recommended that tenants check the  The Survival Manual  published by the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations for helpful information on the T6 Application. If you do not feel confident about doing this alone, go to Legal Assistance for help with the process.

(2) You can contact the Municipal Licensing and Standards (MLS) department for Toronto and East York District at 416-397-9200 to request that a building inspector be sent to your building to inspect outstanding repairs and violations. Tenants can also contact MSL by using the 311 phone number to lodge complaints. The Toronto Municipal Code Property Standards bylaws are available here.

This page has the following sub pages.

• – Complaint letters