Landlord Entry Rights in Ontario: What Is Legal?

Your Right to Privacy in Your Rental Home

Your rental unit is your home, and Ontario law provides strong privacy protections for tenants. The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) strictly regulates when and how a landlord may enter a rented unit, and violations of these rules can give tenants grounds to file an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

The General Rule: 24 Hours Written Notice

In most situations, a landlord must give a tenant at least 24 hours' written notice before entering the unit. The notice must specify the reason for entry and a time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. on a day that is not a Sunday or public holiday (unless the tenant agrees otherwise).

Permitted Reasons for Entry

A landlord may enter a rental unit with proper 24-hour notice for: repairs or maintenance, inspection for maintenance purposes, showing the unit to a prospective tenant or buyer, or any other reason the tenant agrees to.

Emergency Entry: No Notice Required

A landlord may enter without notice in case of an emergency — a fire, flood, gas leak, or other situation requiring immediate action to protect the safety of persons or property. A landlord cannot use "emergency" as a pretext for routine inspections.

What to Do If Your Landlord Enters Without Proper Notice

• Document the unauthorized entry (make a note with date, time, and circumstances)
• Send a written reminder to the landlord of the notice requirements
• File a T2 application with the LTB if the landlord repeatedly enters without proper notice — this may constitute harassment or substantial interference with your reasonable enjoyment of the unit