This overview aims to help people understand how the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) deals with appeals from tenants. It is not intended as legal advice. If your issue is complicated or difficult to explain, you may want to see a lawyer to help you with your appeal.
Is the Landlord and Tenant Board for you?
The LTB works to resolve residential tenancyResidential Tenancy: A rental arrangement where a tenant rents their home from another person called a landlord. disagreements between landlords and their tenants. The LTB also provides important information on tenancy issues both online and by phone at 416-645-8080 within Toronto, or toll-free at 1-888-332-3234.
Any residential tenancy matter can be brought to the Board, but here are the most common issues:
- Evictions
- Illegal trespassing by a landlord into a tenant’s unit
- Poor maintenance or disputes over repairs
- Rental increases or an increase in tenancy chargesTenancy Charges: fees that a landlord can ask a tenant to pay. Example: a landlord can ask a tenant to pay $20 a month for a parking space
- HarassmentHarassment: Ontario law says harassment is when a person acts in a way that is insulting to another person. It must be based on one ore more of the reasons (called “grounds”) in the Ontario Human Rights Code. Since harassment is a legal word, it is important to get legal advice on what is means if you think it applies to you. or threats made by a landlord
What Can The LTB do for You?
If a landlord and tenant are not able to solve a disagreement between themselves, an application to the LTB might be the best way to find a solution to the problem.
The LTB could try mediationMediation: a process of resolving a problem where both sides come together to try to find a solution. Mediation can only happen if both parties agree to it. to resolve the dispute, or there could be a hearing.
At the hearing, the LTB will hear both the tenant and the landlord’s side of the story and make a decision based on the factsFacts: Information that is undisputed. and evidenceEvidence: A letter, a picture, a document, or testimony that is related to your case. it hears.
The hearing process is a way to make sure that your side of the story is heard, and to get an unbiased decision.
Video from the Landlord and Tenant Board website.
To obtain legal advice, you can contact:
Legal Aid Ontario
Toronto Line: 416-979-1446
Toll-free: 1-800-668-8258
To find the Community Legal Clinic near you, go to
Lawyer Referral Service
Toronto Line: 416-947-3330
Toll-free: 1-800-268-8326
Other help might be found at:
Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario
Toronto Line: 416-597-5855
Toll Free: 10866-245-4182
CERA: Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
Toronto Line: 416-944-0087
Toll-free: 1-800-263-1139
The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations
Toronto: 416-921-9494
(Although this website is Toronto based, it has information that is helpful for people across Ontario)
Ontario Tenants Rights website
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
Landlord Tenant Board Help for Tenants