14 things that are illegal for an Ontario landlord to do while you're renting
Know your rights! 👀
Some of these rules are great to know.
If you're renting a property in Ontario, there are a lot of legal protections in place that set clear boundaries between you and your landlord, and you might not even know all of them.
Whether you're just about to sign a lease or you've been renting for years, it's essential to understand the laws in Ontario and your rights.
For example, landlords aren't allowed to charge certain deposits or fees, and they can't require post-dated cheques or automatic payments.
Once you've moved in, other rules take effect, such as the amount of notice your landlord must provide before entering your unit, the frequency and timing of rent increases, and your right to have pets.
Some of these protections have been in place for years, while others are relatively new. Either way, knowing the rules gives you more control and peace of mind as a tenant.
Here are some things you might not know landlords aren't allowed to do under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), so you're not left in the dark.
Enter your unit without proper notice
In Ontario, landlords can only enter your rental unit under specific circumstances.
In most cases, they're required to provide written notice at least 24 hours in advance. This notice must include the reason for entry, the date they're coming and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Valid reasons include repairs, inspections, showing the unit to potential buyers or lenders, or any other reasonable purpose outlined in your lease.
However, under the RTA, landlords can enter without written notice in certain situations, including emergencies (such as a fire, flood, or gas leak), if you give consent at the time of entry, for regular cleaning (if your lease allows for it), or to show the unit to prospective tenants.
In the case of showings, you and your landlord must have already agreed to terminate your tenancy, your landlord must make a "reasonable effort" to inform you beforehand, and the entry must take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Raise rent whenever they want
A landlord in Ontario can only raise the rent once every 12 months, so no more than once a year, for the same tenant in the same unit.
So, if your rent has already been increased before, the landlord must wait at least 12 months from the last increase before raising it again. If you're a new tenant, they must wait 12 months from the day you moved in before your rent is increased for the first time.
This is known as the 12-month rule under the RTA.
Additionally, the landlord must provide you with at least 90 days' written notice if they intend to increase your rent, and there's a limit to how much they can raise it by. Currently, the maximum is 2.5%, and for 2026, it will be 2.1%.
However, some units built after November 15, 2018, are exempt from rent control rules. It's best to verify the age and legal status of your unit and request written confirmation.
Evict you without a valid reason
In Ontario, landlords can't evict tenants without following proper legal steps under the RTA.
Even if they have a valid reason, like missed rent payments, severe damage to the unit, or if they or a close family member need the unit for personal use, they must first provide written notice using the correct form, wait out the required notice period, and then file an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) if the tenant doesn't agree to leave.
A hearing will be held, and only if the LTB issues an eviction order can a sheriff enforce the eviction. Landlords are never allowed to evict a tenant without due process.
Shut off vital services
Under the RTA, landlords aren't allowed to withhold or interfere with essential services, such as heat, water, electricity or gas, at any point during a tenant's occupancy, even if the tenant is behind on rent.
This protection remains in place until a sheriff officially carries out an eviction order.
If a landlord is responsible for paying for a service and fails to do so, resulting in the service being cut off by a utility company, it is considered the same as if the landlord had directly withheld the service.
This is illegal, and tenants have the right to file a complaint with the LTB or the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit.
Change the locks without a replacement key
A landlord cannot change or replace the locks on the doors of your rental unit or anywhere in the building you have access to without providing you with replacement keys.
While you don't need to give them prior consent, if your landlord changes the locks while you're living there, they must provide you with replacement keys so you can still enter your home.
Ban pets (with some exceptions)
Under the RTA, landlords aren't legally allowed to enforce a "no-pets" clause in your lease.
However, if the pet is dangerous, causes damage, creates noise disturbances or triggers serious allergic reactions that affect other tenants, the landlord can issue a Form N5 and potentially seek eviction.
If your rental unit is in a condo building, the rules may also be slightly different. Under the Condominium Act, all residents and owners are required to comply with the Act and the condo corporation's rules and by-laws. Therefore, if the building has a by-law restricting pets, you must comply with it.
Demand illegal deposits or fees
Under the RTA, landlords can only request a rent deposit, which must be collected before or at the time of signing the lease. The deposit cannot exceed one month's rent (or one rental period) and must be applied to your last month's rent — not for damage, cleaning, key loss, pets or anything else.
Landlords also have to pay you interest on that deposit every year at a rate set by the province. If they don't pay the interest, you're allowed to take that amount off your future rent. Similarly though, if your rent goes up, they can ask you to top up the deposit.
Other types of deposits aren't allowed.
Ignore repair requests
The RTA requires landlords to maintain rental units in good condition and meet all health, safety and maintenance standards, even if the tenant was aware of existing problems before moving in.
This obligation remains in effect regardless of whether the tenant is behind on rent — landlords must still complete necessary repairs and maintenance.
Harass or threaten you
This one should go without saying, but landlords aren't allowed to harass, intimidate or pressure tenants, or interfere with their peaceful use of the rental unit. Tenants have the right to live comfortably without such disruptions.
If a tenant believes their landlord is behaving in this manner, they can file a complaint with the LTB. The LTB will review the situation and can order the landlord to stop or impose penalties if the rules have been broken.
Force you to renew or sign a new lease
When a tenant's fixed-term lease ends, the tenancy automatically continues on a month-to-month basis unless a new fixed-term agreement is signed.
Under the RTA, landlords can't force tenants to sign a new lease. That means you can choose to stay in your unit after your lease ends without signing a new agreement, and your tenancy becomes periodic — typically monthly — under all the same terms as your original lease.
Retaliate because you complained
If you've made a complaint against your landlord, they can't evict you for it.
Under the RTA, the LTB must refuse an eviction if the reason is that the tenant reported the landlord to a government authority for breaking health, safety, housing or maintenance laws.
Landlords aren't allowed to punish tenants for exercising their legal rights — this is called reprisal, and it's illegal. If the LTB finds that's what's happening, they're required to dismiss the eviction case.
Make you move for renovations without following the rules
If a landlord wants you to move out so they can undertake major renovations, they must follow strict rules under the RTA.
First, they must provide you with written notice using Form N13, and they must also apply to the LTB for approval to proceed with the eviction.
The renovations must be so extensive that you can't safely stay in the unit while the work is being done.
Even then, you're legally entitled to move back in once the work is finished, and at the same rent, as long as you tell your landlord in writing before moving out.
If the landlord doesn't follow these steps correctly, or if the LTB believes the eviction is being used dishonestly solely to evict you (a "renoviction"), they can refuse the eviction order.
In November 2024, the City of Toronto approved a new Rental Renovation Licence By-law to help stop bad-faith evictions and protect tenants from renovictions. The by-law will officially take effect on July 31, 2025.
Charge you extra for standard services
Under the RTA, landlords can't charge you extra for services like heat or water if those are already included in your rent, unless your lease clearly says so and you agreed to it before signing.
Additionally, landlords are responsible for basic repairs and maintenance, and they can't charge you separately for these costs.
Require post-dated cheques or pre-authorized debit
Under the RTA, landlords can't require you to provide post-dated cheques or set up automatic payments, such as pre-authorized debits or credit card charges, as a condition of renting.
You have the right to choose how you pay your rent, and your landlord can't force a specific payment method on you through the lease or any other means.
If you want further information about your rights as a tenant, you can do so by viewing the RTA here.