2010, Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton) Inc. This webinar is brought to you by CLEONet CLEONet is a web site of legal information for community workers and advocates who work with low-income and disadvantaged communities in Ontario.

About our presenter… Sheeba Sibal is a staff lawyer at West Scarborough Community Legal Services (WSCLS), a community legal clinic in Toronto. Sheeba joined WSCLS as a community legal worker in In 2009, she was called to the Bar and was then hired as a Staff Lawyer.

RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT: THE BASICS – for Tenants Webinar presented by Sheeba Sibal of West Scarborough Community Legal Services Prepared by WSCLS, December 2010

4 WHAT WILL BE COVERED Introduction and Highlights The Lease Rules about Rent Termination of tenancy by tenant Privacy Maintenance, Repairs and Vital Services Evictions Resources

5 INTRODUCTION AND HIGHLIGHTS Residential Tenancies Act Landlord and Tenant Board Who is covered by the RTA Information for New Tenants Supremacy of RTA Application of the Ontario Human Rights Code Special Rules for Subsidized Housing Tenants Investigations Branch - Provincial Property Standards

6 THE LEASE Can be in writing or verbal Essentials of lease – required by law What should be in the lease – for clarity Cooling off period Supremacy of RTA over lease Copy of lease Lease renewal and month to month tenancy Post dated cheques

7 THE LEASE Continued Reasons for refusing lease and discrimination Before you sign your lease Condition of premises What can a landlord ask? Extra fees for services Parking charges

8 RULES ABOUT RENT Vacancy de-control – Old buildings – New buildings Security deposits Key deposit Last Months rent Interest on LMR Rent receipts Rent increase and notices of Rent Increase Above Guideline increases Rent reduction

9 TERMINATION OF TENANCY BY TENANT Notice to Terminate by tenant form and notice period Sublet or assignment Consequences of early termination by tenant Agreement to Terminate Security of tenure

10 PRIVACY Right of tenant Right of landlord Notice to enter Inspections Locks by tenants Door alarms

11 MAINTENANCE,REPAIRS AND VITAL SERVICES Landlords obligation Tenants responsibilities How to get repairs and pest control done Work orders from property standards Rent reduction – T6 application Maintenance issues and arrears of rent Temperature: As per Property Standards By Law Vital services

12 EVICTIONS Early termination of tenancy for cause Termination of tenancy at end of term Voidable and non-voidable notices of termination The hearing and eviction process – Notice of Application and Notice of Hearing – Hearing / Mediation – Order of LTB – Sheriffs notice Avoiding evictions for arrears of rent – Before Hearing – After Hearing – Before Sheriff comes

13 RESOURCES – for Tenants Telephone - Provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Investigation and Enforcement Unit Landlord and Tenant Board Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) Advocacy Center for Tenants Ontario ( ACTO) Center for Equality Rights in ext. 22 in Accommodation (CERA)

14 RESOURCES for Tenants- Cont. WEBSITES - Provincial Ministry for Municipal Affairs & Housing, Investigations and Enforcement unit Landlord and Tenant Board – Legal Aid Ontario for the Legal Clinic in your area Advocacy Center for Tenants – Center for Equality Rights in Accomodation -

15 RESOURCES for Tenants- Cont. CITY OF TORONTO Telephone Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Investigation and Enforcement Unit) (416) Landlord and Tenant Board (416) Legal Aid Ontario (416) City of Toronto Property Standards Department 311 Tenants Hot Line (Federation of Metro Tenants Association - FMTA) (416) Advocacy Center for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)(416)

16 RESOURCES for Tenants – Cont. CITY OF TORONTO Websites City of Toronto - Property Standard by laws - wDownload.do Federation of Metro Tenants Association –

This webinar was brought to you by CLEONet For more information visit the Housing Law section of CLEONet at For more public legal information webinars visit: