What to Do if a Landlord Is Not Fixing Repairs in Ontario

When something breaks at home, it is more than an inconvenience. A failing furnace in January, a leak creeping across a bedroom wall, or a broken fridge that spoils a week’s groceries can push anyone past their limits. The good news for renters across the Greater Toronto Area and Ontario is that the law is clear: landlords must keep rental homes safe, habitable, and in good repair. The trick is knowing how to turn that right into action, quickly and cleanly, without risking your tenancy.

First principles: what the law actually requires

Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) puts the responsibility squarely on landlords to maintain both the rental unit and the broader complex in a good state of repair, fit for habitation, and compliant with health, safety, housing, and maintenance standards. This duty applies even if you knew about the issue when you signed the lease. The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) confirms that when a breach is proven, it can order repairs, rent abatements, compensation, or even termination of the tenancy in serious cases.

“Standards” come from your city’s property-standards by-laws or, in communities without those, Ontario’s provincial Maintenance Standards (O. Reg. 517/06). Either way, repairs must be carried out with proper methods and materials, not quick fixes that fail.

Urgent problems, vital services, and Toronto’s heat/AC rules

When heat, hot or cold water, electricity, gas, or—during the heating season—heat supply is interrupted, that is a vital-services issue, and landlords cannot withhold those services. In Toronto as of April 30, 2025, landlords must maintain at least 21 °C from October 1 to May 15, and where the owner provides air conditioning, operate it from June 1 to September 30 to keep indoor temperatures at or below 26 °C. If your unit is in Toronto and the heat or cooling requirements are not met, you can involve the City. Elsewhere in Ontario, your municipality enforces its own standards or the provincial ones.

Start right: notify, document, and set reasonable timelines

Tell your landlord about the problem in writing, keep copies, and photograph or video the issue as it changes. The LTB’s guidance stresses that landlords should answer legitimate maintenance requests within a reasonable time based on urgency. A leaking ceiling or no heat requires immediate attention; a cosmetic issue does not. Keep a simple timeline of dates you reported the issue, any responses, access you provided, and what happened next—those details matter if you need to escalate.

If nothing moves: call your city and open a file

If your landlord does not respond or the fix keeps slipping, contact your municipality to enforce property-standards by-laws. In Toronto, call 311 to request an inspection; the City can issue a notice of violation or a work order with a deadline. If you rent a condo unit, you still start with your landlord, but you can also call 311 if the owner does not act. Inspections and work orders are powerful evidence if you later apply to the LTB.

File with the Landlord and Tenant Board (Form T6)

When a landlord fails to repair or meet standards, you can file a T6 – Tenant Application about Maintenance with Tribunals Ontario. You generally have one year from when the breach occurred to claim remedies. The Board can order the landlord to do the work by a set date, reduce your rent for the period you lived with the problem, reimburse your out-of-pocket costs, or, in some cases, allow you to complete necessary repairs and deduct the cost. The T6 instructions explain these remedies in plain language.

If the issue is urgent and you are worried about paying full rent while you wait for a hearing, the LTB can, in special circumstances, let you pay rent to the Board instead of to the landlord until your case is decided. There is a specific request form for this, and the LTB’s guidelines outline when it may be granted.

What not to do (and why)

Do not unilaterally withhold rent to pressure a repair. Even if your complaint is legitimate, unpaid rent can lead to an eviction application. If you need rent protection while a T6 is pending, use the LTB’s “pay to the Board” process. Also, do not block lawful entry for inspections or repairs; landlords must give 24-hours’ written notice, with a reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Keep the unit reasonably clean and avoid causing damage; tenants remain responsible for damage beyond normal wear and tear.

Special cases: pests, mould, and electrical hazards

Pest control and chronic moisture or mould are maintenance issues, not just “cleaning” problems. Municipal health guidance recommends professional remediation for larger or persistent mould, and landlords are expected to follow recognized standards. Electrical problems must meet the Ontario Electrical Safety Code, with proper permits and inspections through the Electrical Safety Authority. Report hazards immediately, and do not attempt electrical repairs yourself.

Protection from retaliation, and when to use a T2

It is unlawful for a landlord to penalise you for asserting your rights. If you face harassment, illegal entry, or substantial interference with reasonable enjoyment when you request repairs, you can file a T2 – Application about Tenant Rights alongside, or instead of, a T6. The LTB’s Tenant Rights guideline explains how “substantial interference” works and when the Board may award remedies.

A quick note for Toronto renters about heat and cooling

Because the City updated its temperature rules in 2025, it is worth repeating: minimum 21 °C from October 1 to May 15, and if your building provides AC, it must operate June 1 to September 30 to keep suites at or below 26 °C. If your landlord is not meeting these standards, log it, notify them in writing, and call 311 for enforcement if needed.

Bottom line

You have a clear, enforceable right to a home that is safe, habitable, and maintained to legal standards. The sequence that gets results is simple: notify in writing, document everything, escalate to your municipality for inspection, then file a T6 with the LTB and ask for the remedies that fit your situation. If you experience pushback or harassment, a T2 is available to protect your rights. These steps keep you on solid legal ground while moving the repair forward.