Ontario Renters’ Rights Checker (ORRC)
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Common questions

How much can my landlord raise my rent in 2027?

For most homes, rent increases that start in 2027 can be no more than 1.9% (it was 2.1% in 2026), unless the Landlord and Tenant Board approves more or you sign an agreement for more (Form N10). Rent can go up only once every 12 months, and your landlord must give you at least 90 days’ written notice on the official form (N1 or N2). Most units in buildings first lived in after November 15, 2018 don’t have a yearly limit. Basement or other units added to a house have their own rules. Use “Is my rent increase legal?” to check yours.

Does my landlord owe me interest on my last month’s rent deposit?

Yes, if you paid one. Every year, your landlord must pay interest on it at the same rate as the rent increase guideline. If your deposit is less than your monthly rent, they can use the interest to top it up, and anything left over must be paid to you. Damage and security deposits are not allowed in Ontario. Use “Does my landlord owe me interest?” to estimate what you may be owed.

I got an N4 notice for unpaid rent. Do I have to move out?

No. An N4 is not an eviction. If you pay everything you owe, plus any rent that comes due, by the date on the notice, the notice is cancelled. Even after that date, paying in full before your landlord applies to the Board still cancels it. For notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the date must be at least 7 days after you got the notice (a mailed notice counts as given 5 days after it was mailed). Only the Landlord and Tenant Board can order you to leave, and only the Sheriff can carry out that order.

Can my landlord change the locks or kick me out?

A landlord can change the locks only if they give you a new key. They can’t lock you out or remove your things on their own. Only the Sheriff can remove you, after the Board makes an eviction order. If you’ve been locked out, act quickly: call the police, report it to the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at 1-888-772-9277 (Toronto area: 416-585-7214), and apply to the Board with Form T2. Once someone else moves in, the Board can’t order your landlord to let you back in.

My landlord says they’re moving in (Form N12). What are my rights?

The date on an N12 must be at least 60 days after you got it, and the last day of a rental period. If you have a lease, it can’t be before the lease ends. Your landlord usually must pay you one month’s rent or offer you another place you accept. For N12s given on or after September 21, 2026, they don’t have to if the date on the notice is at least 120 days after you got it, unless a buyer is moving in. You don’t have to move out just because of the notice.

My apartment needed repairs when I moved in. Who has to fix it?

Your landlord. In Ontario, landlords must keep rental units in a good state of repair and meet health, safety and maintenance standards, even if the problems were there when you moved in and you agreed to rent anyway. Ask your landlord in writing and take dated photos. If the repairs aren’t done within a reasonable time, you can call your city’s property standards office (311 in many cities) or apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board with Form T6. Keep paying your rent while you wait. Use “Was my home in acceptable condition when I moved in?” to check yours.

Can my landlord charge me a cleaning fee when I move out?

Usually not. Ontario landlords can only charge the fees the law allows, and a cleaning fee isn’t one of them, even if it’s in your lease. They also can’t keep a deposit for cleaning: a last month’s rent deposit can only be used for your last month’s rent, and damage deposits aren’t allowed. You do have to leave the unit reasonably clean, and pay for damage that you or your guests caused beyond normal wear and tear. If your landlord says you owe money for damage, or for cleaning up a unit left very dirty, they have to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year and prove it. Use “Is it fair that I was charged a cleaning fee?” to check yours.

Does Ontario’s rental law cover every home?

No. Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act covers most renters, but not all. For example, it doesn’t cover you if you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner, or with the owner’s spouse, child or parent who lives in the building, or if you live in an emergency shelter, a hotel or vacation stay, or a long-term care home. Co-op members have different rules. Student residences and people who rent from another tenant may or may not be covered, and so may a motel or Airbnb that is really your year-round home. Retirement homes and basement units are covered. Each checker asks about this first. If you’re not sure, a legal clinic can tell you, and either you or your landlord can ask the Landlord and Tenant Board to decide.

Is this site free and private? Who runs it?

Yes. It’s free, with no sign-up, and nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere. We only count visits and which tools are used, anonymously and without cookies. It’s an independent volunteer project that points Ontario tenants to the rules and to free legal help. It is not run by the Government of Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board, and it gives general information, not legal advice.