Pest issues – Ontario housing law basics:

It can be stressful dealing with a pest problem in a unit or a building, especially if the landlord has not taken steps to fix the issue. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords have a responsibility to deal with pest issues, however a tenant does not have the right to withhold rent when a landlord fails to properly address the issue. Tenants may have legitimate concerns about the condition of their building or unit, however if they choose to withhold rent, they could be at risk of eviction if they do not pay the full amount of their rent on time.

If you have a persistent pest issue in your unit or building and your landlord is not addressing the problem, you can:

• Speak with your landlord about your concerns
• Contact your local Property Standards office to schedule an inspection
  • Call: 3-1-1
• File a T6 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board

• Find out more about how to deal with pests in your unit

If a tenant is unable to prepare their unit for a pest treatment due to a disability, they may be able to request assistance or extra time to prepare the unit as an accommodation under the Ontario Human Rights Code. Under the Code, landlords have a duty to accommodate their tenants to the point of ‘undue hardship’.

• Find out more about a landlord’s duty to accommodate

Landlords have a right to request medical information from tenants who make a disability-related request for accommodation. Before asking for an accommodation, tenants should be prepared to provide medical information from a health professional about their needs.

If you need to request an accommodation from your landlord:

• Write your landlord a letter requesting accommodation using our Self-Advocacy Toolkit

• Contact us if you need support:
  • Call: 1-800-263-1139   OR   416-944-0087
  • Email: cchr@housingrightscanada.com

It can be difficult for tenants to know where to start when they are dealing with a pest issue.

If you have a persistent pest issue in your unit or building and your landlord is not addressing the problem, you can:

• speak with your landlord about your concerns, or write them a letter following these steps

• contact your local Property Standards office to schedule an inspection
  • Call: 3-1-1
• file a T6 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board

• find out more about how to deal with pests in your unit

As a tenant, you are responsible for the ordinary cleanliness of your rental unit. However, your landlord is still expected to work with you to address the issue in your unit. Landlords have a responsibility to maintain the building and your unit in a good state of repair and fit for habitation. Landlords and tenants therefore often need to work together to address a pest issue.

If there is a pest concern in your unit that is spreading throughout the building, we recommend that you:

• prepare your unit for inspection and for treatment
• comply with Notices of Entry from your landlord to allow them to inspect the problem
• follow any guidelines from a pest control company to prevent the pests from returning
• contact support services if you need assistance cleaning or maintaining your unit
  • Call: 2-1-1

If your unit is attracting pests due to a lack of cleanliness, your landlord may take steps to evict you. A landlord’s application for eviction can be supported if you fail to comply with notices of entry, to prepare your unit for inspection or treatment, or to follow guidelines from a pest control company

If you have received a notice of eviction for a pest problem in your unit, you can:

• Contact your local legal aid clinic

• Contact us if you need support:
  • Call: 1-800-263-1139   OR   416-944-0087
  • Email: cchr@housingrightscanada.com