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Learn the basics of Ontario housing law, tenants’ rights and landlord responsibilities.

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Housing Laws

Starting a tenancy – Ontario housing law basics

16 Feb 2022 Starting a tenancy in Ontario, what to do about discrimination during the application process, rules around deposits and rules about pets.

A woman holding house keys
Housing Laws

Maintaining a tenancy – Ontario housing law basics

15 Mar 2022 Maintaining a tenancy in Ontario, and the rules related to tenant and landlord responsibilities.

A set of house keys on a wooden table
Evictions

Ending a tenancy – Ontario housing law basics

25 Apr 2022 Scenarios when a tenancy in Ontario might end, housing laws related to the eviction process, the rights of tenants when they or their landlord want to end a tenancy and processes at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

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Accessibility & Discrimination

Human rights in housing – Ontario housing law basics

25 Mar 2021 Ontario human rights laws, which laws protect human rights in Canada, and how the Ontario Human Rights Code protects human rights in housing.

Pencil Crayons Crossing Out Discrimination
Accessibility & Discrimination

Discrimination in housing – Ontario housing law basics

14 May 2021 Ontario laws that protect individuals from discrimination, examples of discriminatory treatment in housing and resources that may help if you are being discriminated against.

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Housing Laws

Types of tenancies – Ontario housing law basics

11 Mar 2021 Laws that govern the different types of tenancies in Ontario and where to find support for housing concerns.

A picture of an eviction notice stuck on a door
Evictions

Evictions – Ontario housing law basics

13 Jan 2022 Legal reasons for eviction in Ontario, required notice periods that must be given to tenants, what happens after an eviction notice is served, the process at an eviction hearing, and where Ontario renters can go for legal information and help.

A ladder with a bucket of paint underneath it
Housing Laws

Renovations – Ontario housing law basics

19 Mar 2021 Ontario tenants’ rights when a landlord wants to renovate a unit, disability-related concerns and how to handle a “renoviction.”

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Accessibility & Discrimination

Accessible housing – Ontario housing law basics

23 Apr 2021 Laws in Ontario that protect tenant accessibility rights, protections under the Human Rights Code, landlord responsibilities and where to find support if your landlord is not accommodating your disability.

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Financialization of Housing

Maintenance – Ontario housing law basics

31 Mar 2021 How to handle maintenance concerns that a landlord in Ontario is not addressing, including their responsibilities to maintain your unit in a good state of repair.

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Housing Laws

Pest issues – Ontario housing law basics:

31 Mar 2021 Landlord and tenant responsibilities in Ontario, and how to handle conflict and disability-related concerns as they pertain to pest infestations.

Air conditioners sticking out of apartment windows
Housing Laws

Air conditioning – Ontario housing law basics

5 Jul 2023 Housing laws, rules and landlord responsibilities as they relate to air conditioning in rental housing in Ontario.

Housing Laws

Smoking and second-hand smoke – Ontario housing law basics

15 Nov 2022 Rules around smoking if you are a smoker, or if you are a non-smoker worried about second-hand smoke.

A picture of student housing
Accessibility & Discrimination

Students and housing – Ontario housing law basics

3 Aug 2021 Legal protections for students in Ontario in on-campus housing, subletting, issues with roommates, landlord rules about guests and parties, requests for a guarantor and terminating a lease early.

A picture of a brick apartment building
Accessibility & Discrimination

Trouble finding housing – Ontario housing law basics

16 Apr 2021 What renters in Ontario can do when they are having difficulties finding housing due to their income status, accessibility needs, discrimination or having a criminal record.

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Evictions

COVID-19 and housing – Ontario housing law basics

5 Mar 2021 Tenants’ rights during the pandemic, resources to avoid eviction and mental health support.

As a tenant leader, advocating for tenant communities on the ground will require a fair knowledge of the policies and legal frameworks through which the right to housing is implemented in Canada. This toolbox provides a range of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

Knowing your rights and informing your community

Tenant leaders will usually be the first point of contact for impacted communities – with tenants themselves but also politicians, developers, lawyers and housing service providers. A key aspect of your advocacy work will be information: knowing which laws and policies regulate housing and how to best navigate the housing system will go a long way in preparing your claims and providing support to fellow tenants.  

Explore the Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate

Toolkit:

Right to Housing

Implementing the Right to Housing in Canada: A Toolkit for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This toolkit offers tenant leaders with a range of practical information to support their advocacy work to claim the right to housing in their communities.

Resources:

Right to Housing

A Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing: A Resource for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This resource provides an overview of a human rights-based approach to housing to help tenant leaders understand how to identify the root causes of housing challenges and who is responsible to resolve them.

Right to Housing

Empowering Communities to Claim the Right to Housing: A Resource for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This resource is designed to help tenant leaders develop inclusive and participatory strategies to engage their community to claim their right to housing.

Right to Housing

Targeting your Housing Advocacy: A Resource for Tenant Leaders 

24 Feb 2023 This resource is designed to help tenant leaders understand the responsibilities of each level of government to implement the right to housing, so that they can target their housing advocacy more effectively.

Guides:

Right to Housing

Engaging with Local Governments: A Guide for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This guide provides tenant leaders with information on how to effectively engage with their local government to advance the right to housing in their communities.

Right to Housing

Engaging with Provincial and Territorial Governments: A Guide for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This guide provides tenant leaders with information on how to effectively engage with their provincial or territorial government to advance the right to housing in their communities.

Right to Housing

Making a Submission to the Federal Housing Advocate: A Guide for Tenant Leaders

24 Feb 2023 This guide provides tenant leaders with information on how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate, to claim their right to housing.

Additional resources

The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) has an online repository of resources on the right to housing in Canada. Below are some key resources on the right to housing, rental housing and the rights of tenants. 

Housing Laws

Implementing the Right to Housing in Canada: A Responsibility of all Governments

Right to Housing

Implementing the Right to Housing in Canada: Planning and Development Tools

Financialization of Housing

Implementing the Right to Housing in Canada: Renovations and Upgrading

Right to Housing

The National Housing Strategy Act – a Primer

Affordability

Rent regulation policies across Canada

Evictions

Resources for renters facing eviction

See also: city-specific resources for Calgary, Halifax and Winnipeg

Right to Housing

The Calgary Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of resources to support your tenant leadership and housing advocacy work in Calgary.

Right to Housing

The Halifax Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of resources to support your tenant leadership and housing advocacy work in Halifax.

Right to Housing

The Winnipeg Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of resources to support your tenant leadership and housing advocacy work in Winnipeg.

This toolkit offers tenant leaders with a range of practical information to support their advocacy work to claim the right to housing in their communities. It provides an overview of the main principles of the right to housing, Canada’s obligations to implement the right to housing, and policies at different levels of government that can help advance the right to housing. It also outlines what a human rights-based approach to housing can look like, examples of systemic housing issues experienced in Canada, and practical tools that can help tenants mobilize their communities and effectively participate in decision-making processes.  

Download

Highlights include:

  • The right to adequate housing in international and domestic law.
  • A human rights-based approach to housing.
  • Systemic housing issues.
  • Towards rights-based housing policy.
  • Tools for community participation and advocacy.
  • Right to housing leadership in the community.

This toolkit is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This resource is designed to help tenant leaders develop inclusive and participatory strategies to engage their community to claim their right to housing. It outlines the key principles for increased participation within tenant communities, building effective leadership, and mobilizing and organizing tenants. It also offers a guide on how to create strategic planning tools such as community action plans, communication plans and advocacy plans. 

Download

Highlights include:

  • Sharing information and knowledge.
  • Increasing meaningful engagement.
  • Developing effective leadership.
  • Mobilizing and organizing tenant communities.
  • Building a community action plan.
  • Supporting policy advocacy through a communication plan.
  • A housing advocacy plan worksheet (download the printable version).

This resource is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

Targeting your housing advocacy: A resource for tenant leaders.

This resource is designed to help tenant leaders understand the responsibilities of each level of government to implement the right to housing, so that they can target their housing advocacy more effectively. It outlines the obligations of each level of government to implement the right to housing, as well as how to overcome jurisdictional challenges. It also offers a guide on what tenant leaders can do to advocate for their right to housing at each level of government.  

Download

Highlights include:

  • Canada’s obligation to implement the right to housing.
  • Legal and policy framework on the right to housing.
  • Jurisdictional challenges.
  • Opportunities for advocacy.

This resource is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This resource provides an overview of a human rights-based approach to housing. It is designed to help tenant leaders identify the root causes of housing challenges, the groups whose rights are most impacted by those challenges, and the institutions that have an obligation resolve them. It provides guiding tools to develop rights-based housing solutions and to hold institutions accountable for implementing the right to housing.

Download

Highlights include:

  • What is a Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA).
  • Who are rights-holders and duty-bearers.
  • Why is a rights-based approach necessary in housing policy.
  • What are the PANEL Principles and how can they be used in community-based policy advocacy.

This resource is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This document guides renters and community leaders on how to effectively engage with their local government to advance the right to housing in their communities. It includes information on how City Councils address housing issues, and provides guidelines for tenant leaders to make submissions and deputations at City Council meetings so that they can advocate for the issues that are most important to them.  

Download

Highlights include:

  • Advocating to city councils.
  • Looking up board and committee meetings.
  • Making a deputation.
  • Making a submission.

This guide is part of our Housing Advocacy Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This guide provides renters and community leaders with information on how to effectively engage with their provincial or territorial government to advance the right to housing in their communities. It includes an overview of how provinces and territories regulate the rights of tenants, and how provincial and territorial legislatures introduce laws that can impact the right to housing. It also includes a guide for tenant leaders on how to be involved in these processes by writing a letter to their local representative or petitioning the legislative assembly.  

Download

Highlights include:

  • Understanding the role of Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) and ridings.
  • Following upcoming bills at the legislative assembly.
  • How to write a letter to your MLA.
  • How to petition your provincial government.

This guide is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This guide provides renters and community leaders with information on how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate, to claim their right to housing. It provides an overview of the Advocate’s role and the review process. It also guides tenant leaders on how to structure a submission, what information to include and how to gather it, as well as a practical checklist and examples of previous submissions that have been made by community members. 

Download

Highlights include:

  • The Housing Advocate’s role.
  • The review process.
  • Structuring your submission.
  • Gathering information and data.

This guide is part of our Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox

Inside the toolbox you’ll find:

  • A toolkit on implementing the right to housing in Canada.
  • Resources on a human rights-based approach to housing, empowering communities to claim this right, and how to target your advocacy.
  • Guides on engaging with local, provincial and territorial governments, and how to make a submission to the Federal Housing Advocate
Right to Housing

The Tenant Leaders’ Toolbox: Resources for Housing Rights Advocacy

28 Feb 2023 This toolbox provides a list of practical resources to support your leadership and advocacy work, with tools to increase your understanding of the right to housing in Canada.  

This toolkit is designed to help medical professionals support tenants (their patients) who are seeking accommodations in their rental housing from their landlord under the Ontario Human Rights Code. This guide provides an overview of the disability accommodation and letter-writing processes, offers tips for writing an effective disability accommodation letter, and provides templates that medical professionals can use to write their own letters.

Download the toolkit

In this toolkit, you’ll find information about:

  • Disability accommodations in rental housing
  • Types of disabilities that are protected under the Human Rights Code
  • The accommodation process
  • Tips for medical professionals on writing accommodation letters
  • Sample accommodation letters
  • Resources for medical professionals

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Get the latest updates about the right to housing in Canada