Ontario renters, when something breaks
Repairs and maintenance: what your landlord has to fix.
Leaky faucet, broken heating, mold that won't quit: in Ontario, keeping your unit in a good state of repair is your landlord's legal duty — and no lease clause can hand that duty to you. Here's where the line is drawn and what to do when repairs stall.
The landlord's duty can't be waived
The Act requires landlords to keep the rental complex in a good state of repair and fit for habitation — even if you knew about the disrepair before you signed. Because tenants can't sign away their rights, any lease clause purporting to do so is unenforceable.
RTA s.20(1), s.20(2) · s.4(1)
"Tenant handles all repairs" clauses are void
A lease that makes you responsible for all maintenance — plumbing, appliances, structural issues — conflicts with the landlord's non-waivable duty and can't be enforced. The one genuine exception: you are responsible for repairing undue damage caused by the wilful or negligent conduct of you, another occupant, or someone you let in.
RTA s.20 · s.34
Don't withhold rent — it backfires
It's tempting, but Ontario law doesn't allow rent withholding as a repair remedy. Withholding rent exposes you to an eviction application for arrears, even if the landlord is the one in breach. Keep paying rent and pursue the remedies below instead.
RTA s.59 (arrears notice)
Put it in writing, then escalate
Start with a written repair request (email counts) describing the problem and keep copies of everything, with photos and dates. If the landlord still doesn't act, contact municipal property standards enforcement — 311 in Toronto — which can order the landlord to comply. For repairs the landlord needs access for, they must give 24 hours' written notice with the reason and time window.
RTA ss.26–27
The T6: your Board remedy
If nothing else works, apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board on Form T6. The Board can order the landlord to do the repairs, grant you a rent abatement for the period you lived with the problem, and award compensation for reasonable expenses the disrepair caused you. Your paper trail from step 4 is what makes this application strong.
RTA s.30 (T6 application)
Repair-shifting clauses are a classic lease trick.
"Tenant responsible for all maintenance" shows up in leases constantly — and it's void. Run your lease through the free analyzer to catch it and every other clause that may conflict with the Act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules summarized from the Residential Tenancies Act (Ontario); individual situations vary. Community legal clinics (legalaid.on.ca) give free advice if you need it.