Meet property standards
A landlord must make sure that the rental property meets health, safety, housing and maintenance standards.
These standards are set out in municipal bylaws or provincial maintenance standards.
Municipal Bylaws: Many communities in Ontario have bylaws that set minimum standards for the upkeep and
maintenance of a rental property. A landlord must maintain a rental property to the minimum standards. Your
local municipal government is responsible for enforcing these bylaws.
Provincial Maintenance Standards: Some communities do not have municipal bylaws. In those areas, the
landlord must follow the provincial maintenance standards set out in the Residential Tenancies Act regulations.
The municipality is responsible for enforcing the provincial maintenance standards.
For more information, see the section: Report the problem.
Follow the fire safety laws
The landlord must follow all fire safety laws. Information about fire safety laws for rental properties is available
from your local fire department, or from the website of the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal.
Not interfere with vital services
"Vital services" are hot or cold water, fuel, electricity, gas and, during certain months of the year, heat. If a
landlord provides heat, it must be kept at a minimum temperature of 20
o
Celsius from September 1 to June 15.
However, some municipal standards may be higher.
If a landlord provides any vital service to a tenant, the landlord cannot withhold the reasonable supply of it. This
rule applies even if the tenant's rent is overdue, or the tenant has damaged the property.
If a rental agreement says a tenant must arrange for one or more of these services (for example, the tenant pays
the hydro company directly for electricity), the landlord cannot deliberately interfere with the supply of those
services.
Note: If a vital service to a rental unit is cut-off because the landlord failed to pay their bill, the
landlord is considered to have withheld that service. However, if a vital service is cut-off because the
tenant failed to pay their own utility bill, the tenant cannot claim that the landlord withheld a vital
service.
Give notice to enter the rental unit
A landlord may enter a rental unit to inspect for maintenance problems, make repairs, do work or replace
something.
The landlord must give the tenant written notice at least 24 hours before the landlord plans to enter. The
written notice must include:
The reason why the landlord wants to enter
The date the landlord will enter
A specific time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Additional maintenance obligations in mobile homes and land lease communities
Landlords of mobile home parks and land lease communities have additional maintenance obligations. They
must keep the mobile home park or land lease community in a good state of repair. This includes:
The grounds and all buildings and equipment intended for the use of all residents
The roads - keeping them free of potholes, snow and other dangers
The water supply – making sure that there is enough drinking water and water pressure for normal
household use
The fuel, drainage, sewage and electrical systems