Legal Aid Ontario

Jane and Finch Community Legal Services
Legal Clinics/Advising

Jane Finch Community Legal Services is one of a number of independent community legal clinics funded by Legal Aid Ontario. In 1998, the Legal Aid Services Act created Legal Aid Ontario, an independent non-profit corporation that took over the responsibility for the administration of Ontario’s legal aid services from its predecessor, the Ontario Legal Aid Plan. The Legal Aid Services Act specifically provides for the provision of services by community legal clinics, giving statutory recognition to the importance of this delivery model for poverty law services.

• Jane Finch Community Legal Services provides free, quality, unbiased legal services, including public legal education, law reform and community development to low income residents within the geographic boundaries of the organization.

Landlord & Tenants' Rights and Responsibilities

City of Toronto
Rights and Responsibilities

Most people living in rental housing in Ontario are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) except people in student residencies or other institutional settings.

• The RTA is the law that governs landlord and tenant relations and it sets out both your rights and your obligations as a tenant. The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) settles disputes between property owners and tenants.

• If you are asked by a prospective landlord to provide information about your income, credit references and rental history when you apply for a rental, you are obliged to do so.

• Pay first month’s rent when you move in. Your landlord can also ask for last month’s rent at this time—but no more than that. Payment for that last month’s rent has to be used to cover last month’s rent. It is not a damage deposit.

• If a key deposit is required, it can only cover the replacement cost of the key.

• Pay your agreed upon rent on the agreed upon time.

• If you are unhappy with your landlord’s maintenance record (and it is the landlord’s responsibility to maintain the unit in a good state of repair), you are not entitled to withhold the rent. Withholding rent payments could give the landlord a valid reason for a notice of termination for non-payment of rent, leading to an application with the LTB to evict you.

LTB Forms and Applications

Tribunals Ontario - Division of Social Justice:
Landlord & Tenant Board

Eviction forms, tenancy extensions forms, tax rebate applications, application for rent reduction, notice of termination, sublet forms, end of tenancy forms, consent of services, payment agreements, multi-tenant applications, and more.

One Stop Shop for Legal forms and application concerning Tenancy as per the Adjudicative Tribunals Accountability, Governance and Appointments Act and the Statutory Power Procedures Act.

Remember:

1. You need to inform your landlord if you plan to continue or end your tenancy even if you lease is ending.

2. You must receive consent from your landlord prior to subletting your residence.