How to Get Your Landlord to Fix Something: Repair Rights Across Canada
Every province in Canada requires landlords to keep rental units in a good state of repair. But knowing your rights and knowing how to enforce them are two different things. This guide walks you through the steps — from a first written request to a formal tribunal application — and explains what you can and cannot do when your landlord goes silent.
Your Landlord's Legal Duty to Repair
Regardless of what province you rent in, your landlord has a legal obligation to keep your home in a state of good repair. This is not a contractual nicety — it is a statutory requirement that cannot be waived, even if your lease says otherwise.
In Ontario, section 20 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006(RTA) requires a landlord to "maintain a rental unit in a good state of repair and fit for habitation and for complying with health, safety, housing and maintenance standards." Crucially, this obligation applies regardless of what the tenant knew at the time of renting — you cannot sign away your right to a habitable home. Section 21 adds that landlords cannot cut off or interfere with vital services — heat, hydro, water, fuel, or natural gas — whether as retaliation or otherwise.
Ontario also sets minimum heat standards. Under the Ontario Building Code, heat must be maintained at a minimum of 20°C from September 1 to June 15. The City of Toronto sets a higher municipal standard of 21°C from September 15 to June 1.
In British Columbia, section 32 of the Residential Tenancy Actrequires a landlord to maintain a rental unit and residential property "in a state of repair that complies with the standard of the tenancy agreement and health, safety, and housing standards required by law." The standard is pegged to the condition of the unit at the start of the tenancy — meaning it should not deteriorate during your time there.
In Alberta, section 16 of the Residential Tenancies Actrequires landlords to "maintain the premises in a state of good repair and fit for habitation during the tenancy."
In Quebec, articles 1854 and 1907 of the Civil Code of Québec require the lessor to deliver property in good repair and maintain it throughout the tenancy, ensuring peaceful enjoyment. If the dwelling becomes unfit for habitation, article 1907 allows the tenant to apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) for a rent reduction or even termination of the lease.
Step-by-Step: How to Request Repairs
Before you file any formal application, you need a paper trail. Tribunals in every province expect tenants to have made a reasonable effort to notify their landlord first. Follow these steps in order.
- Document the problem. Take dated photographs and video of every visible aspect of the issue. Note when you first noticed it, whether it is getting worse, and any impact on your use of the unit (e.g., no hot water, mould visible, pest sightings).
- Send a written repair request to your landlord. Email is ideal because it is timestamped and creates an automatic record. Be specific: describe the problem, its location, and when it started. Keep it factual and professional. Give a reasonable deadline for a response — typically 7 to 10 days for non-emergency issues.
- Follow up in writing if there is no response. If you hear nothing or receive a non-committal reply, send a second written notice. Keep copies of everything.
- Contact your local bylaw or property standards officer. Most municipalities have a property standards or bylaw enforcement office that can inspect the unit and issue a work order to the landlord. This step is especially useful in Ontario, where a property standards order is strong supporting evidence for a T6 application.
- File a formal application with your provincial tribunal if the landlord still does not act. See the section below for province-by-province details.
Sample Written Repair Request
Subject: Written Repair Request — [Unit Address] Dear [Landlord Name], I am writing to formally request repairs to my rental unit at [full address]. The issue is [describe problem clearly, e.g., "a persistent leak from the bathroom ceiling that began on [date] and has worsened over the past two weeks"]. I have attached photographs taken on [date] for your reference. Under [Ontario RTA s.20 / BC RTA s.32 / Alberta RTAA s.16], you are required to maintain the unit in a good state of repair. Please confirm receipt of this request and advise when repairs will be completed, within 7 days of this message. If I do not hear from you by [date], I will contact the local property standards office and, if necessary, file an application with [LTB / RTB / RTDRS / TAL]. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Date]
Province-by-Province: How to Escalate
Ontario — T6 Application to the LTB
If your Ontario landlord has not addressed a repair issue after a written request, you have two parallel paths: a municipal property standards complaint and a T6 application to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
The T6 (Tenant's Application about Maintenance) is the primary remedy under the RTA. You file Form T6 with the LTB. At a hearing, the LTB can order your landlord to carry out the repairs and can award a rent abatement — a retroactive reduction in the rent you were charged during the period the unit was substandard. Abatements typically range from 5% to 25% for moderate ongoing issues, and can reach 100% of rent for severe habitability failures such as a unit rendered completely unusable.
A property standards complaint to your municipality runs separately and is free. A property standards officer can inspect the unit and issue a work order. While a work order does not award you compensation, it creates an official record that strongly supports your T6 application.
British Columbia — RTB Dispute Resolution Application
In BC, tenants who cannot resolve a repair dispute with their landlord can file a dispute resolution application with the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). Use the DR2 form (Application for Dispute Resolution). The RTB can order repairs and/or order a rent reduction.
Average timelines for a hearing in BC are 6 to 8 weeks from the date of filing. As in Ontario, you should continue paying rent while your application is pending.
Alberta — RTDRS or Provincial Court
Alberta tenants can apply to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) — a faster, less formal alternative to court with a claim cap of $100,000. The RTDRS can order repairs and compensation. Alternatively, you can apply to the Alberta Provincial Court (Small Claims if the amount is within its jurisdiction).
Before filing, document your repair requests and any written responses from your landlord. Alberta's RTDRS process is generally faster than full court proceedings and is accessible without a lawyer.
Quebec — TAL and Municipal Housing Inspection
Quebec tenants can apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL)for a rent reduction (called "diminution du loyer") under Civil Code articles 1854 and 1907. If the dwelling is seriously unfit for habitation, the TAL can also authorize lease termination.
In parallel, Quebec tenants can request a municipal housing inspection. An inspector can issue a formal notice requiring the landlord to carry out repairs within a set timeline.
Other Provinces
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador all have landlord repair obligations in their respective residential tenancy legislation. Enforcement mechanisms vary by province but generally follow the same pattern: file a written complaint with the provincial tenancy authority or tribunal. In Saskatchewan, disputes go through the Office of Residential Tenancies; in Manitoba, through the Residential Tenancies Branch; in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, and NL, through their respective residential tenancy offices.
What You CANNOT Do: No Repair-and-Deduct in Ontario
Warning: Withholding rent or paying for repairs yourself and deducting from rent is not a legal remedy in Ontario — and most other Canadian provinces.
Some jurisdictions in the United States allow tenants to "repair and deduct" — pay for a repair themselves and subtract the cost from the next month's rent. This right does not exist as a general remedy in Ontario. If you withhold rent or deduct repair costs without a tribunal order, your landlord can serve you with an N4 notice for non-payment of rent. An N4 can lead to eviction proceedings, even if the underlying maintenance complaint is legitimate.
The correct path in Ontario is to continue paying rent and pursue your rights through the T6 application process. The LTB can then retroactively award you a rent abatement — money back for the period the unit was substandard — without you having to unilaterally withhold a single dollar.
The same principle applies in most Canadian provinces. BC, Alberta, and Quebec all require tenants to continue paying rent and seek relief through the appropriate tribunal. Do not put your tenancy at risk by withholding rent on your own initiative.
Emergency Repairs
Emergency repairs are treated differently from ordinary maintenance issues. In Ontario, if there is a genuine emergency affecting safety — a burst pipe, a total loss of heat during winter, a gas leak — a tenant may arrange for an emergency repair and seek reimbursement from the landlord. However, this is a narrow right: it applies only to genuine emergencies, not general maintenance backlog, and tenants should first make every reasonable effort to contact the landlord.
Before arranging an emergency repair yourself:
- Attempt to reach your landlord by phone, email, and text — document each attempt with a timestamp.
- If your lease lists an emergency contact number for repairs, use it first.
- Get at least one written quote from a licensed contractor where possible, and keep all receipts.
- Notify your landlord in writing immediately after the emergency repair is completed.
If the landlord refuses to reimburse you for a legitimate emergency repair, you can include this as part of a T6 application in Ontario or a dispute resolution application in your province.
Landlord vs. Tenant Responsibility
Not every maintenance issue is the landlord's responsibility. Understanding the line can save you from a dispute — or help you make a stronger case when something genuinely is the landlord's problem.
| Landlord's Responsibility | Tenant's Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Structural elements (walls, roof, foundation) | Damage caused by tenant or guests |
| HVAC systems (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) | Lightbulb replacement (interior) |
| Plumbing and water supply | Minor upkeep (cleaning, unclogging drains caused by tenant) |
| Electrical systems and wiring | Pest infestation caused by tenant's actions |
| Exterior doors, windows, and locks | Deliberate alterations without landlord consent |
| Pest/rodent infestations (if not caused by tenant) | General cleanliness of the unit |
| Common areas and shared systems | Appliances provided by tenant |
Pest and rodent infestations deserve special mention. In most provinces, including Ontario, pest control is the landlord's responsibility as long as the infestation was not caused or significantly worsened by the tenant's own conduct (e.g., leaving food waste accessible). A landlord who refuses to deal with a bedbug or cockroach infestation can face a T6 application at the LTB with the same remedies available as for any other maintenance failure.