2024-2025 Student Resource Handbook

20 What can happen if a landlord enters your unit illegally? Should a landlord enter a tenant’s unit illegally the tenant may file an application with the Board. If the Board finds that the landlord has entered the unit illegally, there are a number of things that the Board could order. As an example, the tenant may receive an abatement of rent or the landlord could be ordered to pay a fine. What is ordered is up to the Member who hears the application. Can a tenant change the locks? A tenant is not able to change the locks unless the landlord agrees. Also, the tenant cannot add locks that might stop a landlord from entering the unit if there is an emergency or if the landlord has a valid reason for entering the rental unit and the landlord has given the tenant proper notice to enter. If the tenant does change the lock, then a copy of the key should be given to the landlord immediately. Can the landlord change the locks? A landlord can change the locks while the tenant is living in the unit as long as they give the tenant a key for the new lock. Note: Once the tenant has been evicted from rental unit, the landlord is allowed to change the locks, even when the tenant has left any property in the unit. Also the landlord is then under no obligation whatsoever to give the former tenant replacement keys. YOUR RENT How is the rent on a rental unit decided? When a rental unit is vacant, a landlord and the person looking to rent the unit negotiate the rent and decide what utility services or parking are to be included. Once the tenancy begins, the rules about rent and the other rules in the Residential Tenancies Act apply. How often can the rent be increased? The landlord cannot increase the rent for a new tenant until 12 months after the tenancy started. The landlord is allowed to increase the rent once every 12 months. How much can a landlord legally increase the rent each year? In virtually all the cases, the landlord can only increase the tenant’s rent by the guideline set each year by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Does a landlord have to notify a tenant of a rent increase? Yes. In order for a landlord to increase the rent, the landlord must give a written notice of the rent increase to the tenant at least 90 days before the day the rent increase is to start. This notice must tell the tenant how much the new rent will be and when to begin paying the new rent. If the tenant then thinks that the new rent is too high and they do not want to pay it, this allows the tenant enough time to give the landlord proper notice of termination and move out before the rent increase begins. Does a landlord have to give rent receipts? Yes, if a tenant does ask for them. All landlords are required to provide rent receipts, at no charge, www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb We inviteyou tostay andexperienceour newly renovatedhotel! Seeandexperience the di erenceat thenew Holiday InnToronto AirportEast from the momentyouarrive. Holiday InnTorontoAirportEastHotel 600DixonRoad,Toronto,ON.M9W1J1 HotelFrontDesk:416-240-7511 TollFree:1-800-491-4656 HotelFax:416-240-7519 ReservationsEmail:[email protected] Web:www.hitorontoairport.ca