Whether you’re a homeowner or renting a place from your landlord, maintenance issues around the home can pop up. Whether the issue at hand is mold, broken appliances or features, or general maintenance, it’s important to fix things around your home as fast as possible to prevent further problems. Today, let’s talk about what to do when you notice a problem around your rental home as a tenant.&nbsp;Every tenant and landlord have rights under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act. Tribunals Ontario and the Landlord and Tenant Board state that under the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, the landlord is responsible for keeping the rental unit “in a good state of repair.” Not perfect, but in good repair. The Board states that this includes the proper working order of appliances, windows, doors, locks, lighting, patios, walls, roofs, ceilings, and the electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. If, due to regular wear and tear caused by proper prolonged use or if the service breaks, the landlord is responsible for repairing the item if possible or for replacing it. The landlord also shares a responsibility for keeping the space clean, such as pest removal if there are cockroaches for example. Also, the landlord must abide by municipal health and safety standards. The Board states that many municipalities have “minimum standards for the upkeep and maintenance of a rental property” and that the landlord must maintain the property to these standards. An example of a municipal minimum standard is the Heating Bylaw in the City of Toronto which states that a minimum temperature of 21 degrees Celsius is maintained from October to May. (That is warmer than I keep it for myself.) If you live in an area where no municipal standards apply, the standards in the Residential Tenancies Act are the law. Landlords may also not interfere with vital services. Vital services refer to hot or cold water, electricity, fuel, gas, and heat during colder months. This means that a landlord cannot withhold a reasonable supply of these services even if a tenant hasn’t paid rent or damages the unit, according to the Landlord Tenant Board.&nbsp;What are your responsibilities as a tenant? As a tenant, you must keep your rental unit clean “to the standard that most people would consider ordinary or normal cleanliness.” To provide a bit more guidance, the Landlord Tenant Board states a tenant may be evicted if the unit is left so dirty that it is attracting pests, for example. A tenant is also responsible for the repair or replacement of items or services that is not caused by normal wear and tear from proper use or if it breaks. Tenants are also responsible for such damages caused by visitors or other third parties.&nbsp;As a tenant, what can you do when an issue arises that you did not cause? The first order of business is to ensure you keep paying your rent in full. The Landlord and Tenant Board say to not withhold rent as it could give the landlord grounds for eviction. You also should inform your landlord of the problem and give them the opportunity to address it. The Landlord and Tenant Board says that if a landlord does not address the issue, you can proceed by reporting it to your local municipality and ask them to enforce the bylaws. This can include asking for an inspection and issuing a notice to the landlord for a bylaw violation. The municipality can also take the landlord to court for a violation. A tenant can file a T6 form, or a maintenance application, with the Landlord and Tenant Board. The tenant should support their form by showing the tribunal that the landlord did not fix the problem adequately. There are several remedies the Landlord and Tenant Board can offer. This includes rental abatement, ordering the landlord to repair, ordering the landlord to pay the tenant for repairs, ordering the landlord to reimburse the tenant for any expenses they may have incurred as a result of these issues, termination of the rental agreement, and more.&nbsp;As a tenant and a landlord, it is important to know your rights. However, it also important to act in a reasonable and responsible fashion. How would a decent person act if there were no contracts, rules, or by-laws in place? If you don’t remember the Lord’s Prayer, think about what you learned in kindergarten. Treat people the way that you would expect to be treated in return. Communication, common sense, and kindness will prevent a lot of paperwork in the end. If all else fails, hopefully today you know more about what to do when an issue arises.&nbsp;

Tenant’s Guide to Repairs and Responsibilities in Ontario Rentals

Learn your rights and responsibilities for repairs under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act. A quick guide for tenants on rental maintenance and disputes.

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