THE FEDERATION OF METRO TENANTS' ASSOCIATIONSTenant Survival Manual
Chapters
Are You Covered by the Law?
Above Guideline Rent Increases
Conversion, Demolition or Renovation
Illegal Charges
Before you move in, the only charges a property owner may ask for, in addition to the rent for your first month, are Last Month's Rent deposits and key deposits.
Once you have moved in, a property owner can only charge you additional charges for very specific reasons. The most common of these charges is if you have written a cheque and it is returned because you do not have enough money in your bank account to pay for it. A property owner may ask you to pay an administrative fee of up to twenty dollars in addition to the amount the bank charges them. Your bank may also charge you a fee for bounced cheques.
With few exceptions, most of the other charges a property owner may ask for are illegal, unless you agree to them. If you think that you have paid an illegal charge, you can file an Application for a Rent Rebate (T1) at the Landlord and Tenant Board to get the money back. You must apply within one year of paying the illegal charge. See Section 134 of the RTA and Section 17 of the RTA Regulations for more information about illegal charges.
If you are unsure about whether or not a property owner has charged you an illegal charge, call the Tenant Hotline at 416-921-9494.
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