Offences Under the Residential Tenancies Act

Once charges are laid, the alleged offender will have a trial at the Ontario Court of Justice (Provincial Offences Court) before a Justice of the Peace. If the alleged offender is found guilty of an offence, the maximum fine for an individual is $25,000 per count and $100,000 per count for a corporation.

For example, if you are notified by the landlord at your care home that he or she wants to increase your rent but you never received a care information package, you have certain legal rights. You could call the Investigation and Enforcement Unit to report this offence. The Unit would contact your landlord and explain that the notice of rent increase is null and void because you have not received a care information package. Or, you could file a Form 2 with the Landlord and Tenant Board to have the Board decide whether the landlord gave you a copy of the care information package. If the Board agrees with you, an order can be made for an “abatement” of rent. This means that you do not have to pay all or some portion of your rent.

For more information, the Investigation and Enforcement Unit can be contacted at (416) 585-7214 or 1-888-772-9277.

Their website can also be visited at www.mah.gov.on.ca/ieu. The Landlord and Tenant Board can be reached at (416) 645-8080 or 1-888-332-3234. Their website is www.ltb.gov.on.ca.

Keywords: homes, housing