Tenant legal issues
Some of our services have temporarily changed due to the COVID‑19 crisis. The information provided on this page may no longer be accurate. Please visit our COVID‑19 client page to learn how this may impact you.
COVID-19
Important changes are being made to government programs such as employment insurance (EI) and housing rights. Information is changing daily, please check often.
- Steps to Justice for answers to questions you might have.
- Call the legal clinic in your catchment area for hours of operation, services, information, and to how to schedule an appointment.
- Visit the Ontario Government and Government of Canada websites for updates.
If you have a problem with your landlord, you may qualify for free legal help.
Some reasons you may need legal help:
- the home or the building where you live has pests
- your home does not have basic services like heat or electricity
- Your landlord wants to:
- raise your rent in fewer than 90 days
- raise your rent by more than what the law allows
- ask you to pay for something you do not think you should have to pay for
- evict you
How to get help
You can get help from a legal clinic. The clinic will not charge you for legal advice, but they may ask you to pay for certain fees such as court filing and medical record fees. Find your clinic.
You can also speak with a lawyer at a Landlord and Tenant Board office. They are called duty counsel. You do not need an appointment but it is first come, first served. Priority is given to people facing an eviction hearing.
For more information about landlord and tenant issues, visit Tribunals Ontario’s website.