Is the landlord responsible for bed bugs in Ontario?

Almost always, yes. Landlords must keep the rental in a good state of repair and fit for habitation, and comply with health and maintenance standards. That includes treating pest infestations like bed bugs, cockroaches, and mice — even when it's unclear who brought them in. The landlord pays for professional extermination.

What do I do if my landlord ignores a pest problem?

Report it in writing and keep a copy. If the landlord doesn't act, you can call your municipality's property standards / bylaw office to order treatment, and you can file a T6 (Tenant Rights) application with the Landlord and Tenant Board for a rent abatement and an order requiring treatment.

Can I break my lease because of bed bugs?

An infestation alone isn't an automatic right to leave, but if the unit becomes uninhabitable and the landlord won't act, that can support a T6 application, a rent abatement, and in serious cases an argument that the tenancy should end. Get advice from a tenant clinic or paralegal first.

Home BlogBed Bugs & Pests in Ontario

OntarioSeptember 7, 20266 min read

Bed Bugs and Pests in a Rental: Who's Responsible in Ontario?

Bed bugs, cockroaches, mice — few things make a home feel less livable. The good news for renters in Ontario: dealing with pests is almost always the landlord's legal responsibility, and they usually can't bill you for it. Here's how to get it fixed.

By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act per our editorial standards·Last reviewed September 2026

The Landlord Has to Deal With It

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, your landlord must keep the unit in a good state of repair and fit for habitation, and comply with health, safety, and maintenance standards. Ontario adjudicators have consistently treated pest infestations — bed bugs, cockroaches, rodents — as the landlord's responsibility to fix, using professional extermination.

Crucially, this holds even when nobody can prove how the pests got in. You don't have to establish it wasn't your fault.

Can They Make You Pay?

Almost never. A landlord can only charge you for treatment if they can prove at the LTB that you deliberately or negligentlycaused the infestation — which is rarely established. A lease clause that says "tenant is responsible for all pest control" doesn't override the Act and generally won't be enforced.

Report It in Writing — Immediately

Tell your landlord in writing (text or email is fine) as soon as you notice a problem, and keep the copy. Note the date you first saw pests, take photos, and cooperate with reasonable preparation the exterminator asks for (like laundering bedding) — refusing to prepare can shift some blame to you.

A written record is what turns "he said, she said" into a winnable case if the landlord drags their feet.

If the Landlord Ignores You

You have two escalation routes, and you can use both:

Municipal property standards / bylaw enforcement. Your city can inspect and order the landlord to treat the infestation, often faster than the LTB.
File a T6 at the Landlord and Tenant Board. This is the maintenance application. You can ask for an order requiring treatment plus a rent abatement (a partial refund) for the time you lived with the problem.

What About Damaged Belongings?

Bed bugs can ruin mattresses and furniture. The Board can award compensation in some cases, but recovering the full value of belongings is harder than getting the unit treated. This is one reason tenant insurance matters — some policies help with pest-related losses.