Tenant Survival Manual

Chapters

Introduction

The Residential Tenancies Act

Landlord and Tenant Board

Are You Covered by the Law?

Private Market Housing

Social Housing

Before You  Move In

Tenancy Agreements

Discrimination

Information Package

Last Month's Rent

Key Deposit

Illegal Charges

Rent

Rent Increases

Above Guideline Rent Increases

Rent Reductions

Automatic Rent Reductions

Rent Freezes

Trouble Paying Your Rent?

Rent in Social Housing

Repairs and Maintenance

How to Get Repairs Done

Working Together

Privacy

Locks and Keys

Harassment

Ending a Tenancy

Subletting

Assigning

Evictions

Eviction Procedure

Reasons for Eviction

Conversion, Demolition or Renovation

How To File an Application

Hearings

About the FMTA

Are You Covered by the Residential Tenancies Act?

Private Market Housing

The Residential Tenancies Act covers most people in private market rental housing. The law applies if you rent a house, apartment, basement, rooming house room, boarding home room, rented condominium, or live in a ‘care home’, like a retirement home or permanent assisted living.

It is important to know that the RTA does not apply in certain situations:

The RTA does not apply to you if you share either the kitchen or the bathroom with the property owner or a member of a property owner’s immediate family.

The Residential Tenancies Act does not apply if you are:

·        In jail

·        In a hospital or other institutional facility

·        In a student residence

·        In an emergency shelter

·        In temporary accommodation (like a hotel)

·        In premises that are meant to be used as a business

·        In non-profit co-op housing

If you are not sure if you are covered by the RTA, you can call the Tenant Hotline at 416-921-9494. See Section 5 of the RTA for a complete list of exemptions.