Tenant Rights & Landlord Obligations in Ontario

Updated: January 2026

Written by the Keith and Françoise Real Estate Team, Ontario Realtors®.

This article reflects our work with landlords and tenants across Ontario, particularly in the GTA and Niagara Region, where misunderstandings about rights and obligations often surface after a tenancy has already begun.

For a complete overview of how residential tenancies operate in Ontario, including leases, notices, and enforcement, start with our main guide: Leasing in Ontario .

Tenant rights and landlord obligations are governed primarily by the Residential Tenancies Act . While the rules are clearly written, disputes often arise from assumptions about what those rules allow in practice.

Core Rights Tenants Have Under Ontario Law

Tenants in Ontario are entitled to specific protections that cannot be waived, even if a lease attempts to say otherwise.

• The right to reasonable privacy and quiet enjoyment
• The right to live in a property that meets health and safety standards
• Protection from illegal eviction or retaliation
• The right to proper notice before entry or termination

Many of these rights are discussed in more detail in Access and Showings During a Tenancy in Ontario .

Primary Obligations Landlords Must Meet

Landlords have ongoing responsibilities that apply throughout the tenancy, regardless of lease wording.

• Maintaining the rental property in a good state of repair
• Ensuring the unit complies with health, safety, and housing standards
• Respecting notice and access rules
• Following proper procedures when ending a tenancy

Attempts to shift these obligations entirely to tenants often fail under Ontario law. For related issues, see Illegal Lease Clauses in Ontario .

Where Misunderstandings Commonly Occur

In practice, most disputes do not arise from extreme behaviour, but from unclear expectations. Common friction points include:

• Maintenance responsibilities versus tenant care
• Access for repairs or showings
• Rent increases and notice timing
• Termination rights at the end of a lease

These issues are often interconnected rather than isolated.

How Disputes Are Resolved in Ontario

When disagreements cannot be resolved informally, enforcement falls under the jurisdiction of the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario .

The Board assesses each situation based on facts, timing, and compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act, not on assumptions or informal agreements.

Planning Ahead Reduces Conflict

Clear communication at the start of a tenancy and realistic expectations on both sides reduce the likelihood of disputes. Many conflicts can be avoided by understanding how rights and obligations interact over time.

When questions arise, addressing them early is usually more effective than reacting once positions have hardened.

Frequently Asked Questions