What to Do When Your Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Ontario

Your Right to a Well-Maintained Home

Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, your landlord is legally obligated to maintain your rental unit and building in a good state of repair and fit for habitation. This obligation exists regardless of the age of the building or what your lease says.

Step 1: Document the Problem

Before taking any formal action, thoroughly document the issue: take photographs and videos, note when the problem started and how it affects your use of the unit, and keep a log of all communications with your landlord.

Step 2: Request Repairs in Writing

Send your landlord a written request (email is fine) describing the specific repair needed and requesting completion by a specific date. Written requests create a paper trail for the LTB.

Step 3: Contact the Municipality

Ontario municipalities have property standards bylaws enforced by municipal property standards officers. File a complaint with your city or town (e.g., Toronto's 311 service). An officer may inspect and issue a work order requiring the landlord to make repairs. This is a free service.

Step 4: File a T6 Application with the LTB

The T6 Application (Tenant Application About Maintenance) allows you to ask the LTB to:

• Order the landlord to carry out the required repairs
• Authorize you to arrange repairs yourself and deduct the cost from rent
• Award you a rent abatement for the period of non-compliance
• Prohibit the landlord from increasing rent until repairs are made

How Much Rent Abatement Can You Get?

Rent abatement depends on the severity of the issue and its duration. A mould problem affecting an entire room might warrant 15–30% abatement. Do NOT withhold rent without a formal LTB order — this gives the landlord grounds to file an N4 for non-payment.