What repairs are tenants responsible for in Ontario?

Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, s.33 and s.34, tenants must keep their unit ordinarily clean, repair or pay for any damage caused by themselves, their guests, or other occupants. This includes broken windows caused by the tenant, holes in walls, damaged appliances, and stains or burns beyond normal use. Tenants are not responsible for routine deterioration or for repairs caused by ordinary use — those are the landlord's responsibility under RTA s.20.

Does a tenant have to fix a broken window in Canada?

It depends on how the window broke. If the tenant, a guest, or another occupant broke the window — for example, from a ball, a thrown object, or an accident — the tenant is generally responsible for the cost of repair. If the window broke due to age, faulty installation, weather, or other causes outside the tenant's control, it is the landlord's responsibility to repair under their statutory maintenance obligation.

Is a tenant responsible for clogged drains in Canada?

Tenants are responsible for clogs caused by their own actions — for example, hair and soap buildup in a bathroom drain or food debris in a kitchen sink. The landlord is responsible for plumbing infrastructure failures, like a blocked main drain or a collapse in the pipe system, that are not caused by tenant misuse.

Can a landlord charge a tenant for repairs in Ontario?

Yes. Under Ontario's RTA, if a tenant or their guest damages the rental unit, the landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) using a Form L2 to claim the cost of repairs. The landlord must prove the damage was caused by the tenant and provide evidence of the actual repair cost. A landlord cannot deduct repair costs from a last month's rent deposit in Ontario — any deduction requires an LTB order.

What happens if a tenant does not clean the rental unit?

Tenants in every Canadian province are required to maintain ordinary cleanliness. If a unit is left in a state of extreme uncleanliness that goes beyond normal living, the landlord can apply to a tribunal for compensation for the cleaning cost. In Ontario, this can be pursued via an LTB application. Note that a landlord cannot charge for cleaning if the unit was left in the same standard of cleanliness as when the tenant moved in.

Are tenants responsible for pest control if they caused the infestation?

Yes. If a pest infestation — rats, cockroaches, bedbugs — was caused or substantially contributed to by the tenant's actions (such as leaving food accessible, hoarding, or failing to notify the landlord about a pest problem), the tenant may be held liable for the cost of extermination. If the infestation was pre-existing or caused by building conditions, it is the landlord's obligation to address.

Home BlogTenant Repair Responsibilities

CanadaJuly 7, 20267 min read

What Repairs Are Tenants Responsible For in Canada?

Canadian landlords must maintain the rental unit — but tenants are legally responsible for damage they cause. Understanding where that line sits can prevent a costly dispute at move-out. Here is a province-by-province breakdown of tenant repair obligations, what counts as your problem to fix, and what your landlord must handle.

The Legal Framework: Landlord Maintains, Tenant Does Not Damage

Across every Canadian province, residential tenancy legislation divides repair responsibility along the same fundamental line: landlords must maintain the property; tenants must not damage it.

In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006(RTA) sets this out in two sections. Section 20 requires the landlord to “maintain a rental unit in a good state of repair and fit for habitation.” Section 33 then imposes a parallel obligation on tenants: they must “maintain the unit in a state of ordinary cleanliness.” Section 34 goes further — if a tenant or their guest causes undue damage, the tenant is responsible for the cost of repair.

In British Columbia, section 32 of the Residential Tenancy Actmirrors this: the landlord must maintain the unit in a state of repair, while tenants must keep the unit reasonably clean and not cause damage beyond normal use. Section 7(1)(c) of BC's Act confirms that the tenant must not significantly interfere with or disturb the reasonable enjoyment of others — including not causing damage to the property.

In Alberta, section 21 of the Residential Tenancies Act requires tenants to keep the premises reasonably clean and not cause or permit damage beyond normal use. The tenant is also required to notify the landlord promptly when damage or needed repairs become apparent — failing to report a problem that then worsens can shift liability to the tenant.

In Quebec, article 1971 of the Civil Code of Québec holds the tenant responsible for any deterioration they cause to the dwelling, and article 1973 requires tenants to carry out minor maintenance repairs as defined by regulation — these are small upkeep tasks (replacing smoke detector batteries, lubricating hinges) that fall on the tenant regardless of who caused the wear.

Decision flowchart for Canadian rentals: if damage was caused by the tenant, a guest, or misuse, the tenant pays for the repair; if it is normal wear and tear, aging, or a building system failure, the landlord must repair it — The one-question test that decides most repair disputes in Canadian rentals.

Quick Reference: Who Fixes What?

Always Tenant's Responsibility

Damage caused by the tenant, their guests, or other occupants
Broken windows from tenant actions (thrown objects, accidents)
Holes in walls from hanging items improperly or from alteration
Burns on carpets, countertops, or flooring from cigarettes or heat
Pet damage — scratches, stains, chewed baseboards
Drain clogs caused by grease, hair, or other tenant-introduced material
Broken fixtures or appliances due to misuse
Pest infestations caused by tenant's conduct or negligence

Always Landlord's Responsibility

Structural repairs (walls, roof, foundation, flooring)
HVAC and heating systems (not caused by tenant misuse)
Plumbing infrastructure and water supply systems
Electrical systems and wiring
Exterior doors, windows, and locks
Normal wear and tear on paint, carpets, and fixtures over time
Pest infestations not caused by tenant conduct
Common area maintenance

The Damage vs. Wear and Tear Distinction

The single most important concept in tenant repair law is the distinction between normal wear and tear and tenant-caused damage. Normal wear and tear is deterioration that happens from ordinary, reasonable everyday use — and it is the landlord's problem, not the tenant's.

Wear and tear includes things like: paint fading over time, small scuffs on walls from furniture placement, carpet fibres wearing down from foot traffic, minor scratches on hardwood from everyday use, and the gradual yellowing of grout in bathrooms. These are consequences of living in a space — a court or tribunal will not hold a tenant liable for them.

Damage, by contrast, is something beyond what reasonable use would produce: a large hole punched in drywall, a cigarette burn on a countertop, deep gouges in hardwood flooring from dragging heavy furniture, shattered tiles from impact, or a bathroom fan destroyed from someone hanging from it. These cross the line from ordinary use into damage — and the cost to restore the unit falls on the tenant.

The Depreciation Question

Even when a tenant has caused damage, they are generally only liable for the current depreciated value of the item — not the full replacement cost of a brand-new version. If a 12-year-old carpet is burned and a new carpet costs $2,000 but the old one had a useful life of 15 years, the tenant may only owe roughly $400 (the remaining 3 years of value). Ontario LTB arbitrators and BC RTB arbitrators both apply this principle.

Specific Scenarios: Who Pays?

Broken window

Tenant's responsibility if caused by their action or their guest's action. Landlord's responsibility if caused by age, seal failure, thermal stress, or weather.

Clogged drain

Tenant's responsibility for clogs caused by hair, grease, or objects they put down the drain. Landlord's responsibility for plumbing system failures, root intrusion, or collapse.

Mould

Landlord's responsibility if caused by structural water penetration, roof leaks, or inadequate ventilation in the building. Tenant's responsibility if caused by consistently leaving windows closed in a humid unit without running the bathroom exhaust fan, or by drying clothes indoors without ventilation.

Pet damage

Tenant's responsibility. Scratches on floors, doors, or walls caused by a pet are damage beyond normal wear and tear regardless of whether the landlord agreed to the pet.

Appliance breakdown

Landlord's responsibility if the appliance is included in the rental and breaks down from age or malfunction. Tenant's responsibility if the appliance breaks from misuse — running an oven without proper ventilation, overloading a dishwasher, or forcing an ice maker.

Pest infestation

Landlord's responsibility in most cases — building-wide infestations almost always arise from building conditions. Tenant's responsibility if the infestation is confined to their unit and clearly caused by their conduct (e.g., leaving garbage indoors, hoarding food waste).

Reporting Obligations: When Tenants Must Tell the Landlord

Even when a repair is the landlord's responsibility, tenants have an obligation to report problems promptly. In Alberta, this is explicit in the statute. In Ontario and BC, it is implied — a tenant who notices a roof leak and says nothing for months while the damage spreads may find that a portion of the resulting damage is attributed to them for failing to mitigate.

Always report in writing

When you discover a problem — whether it's your fault or the landlord's — send a written notice immediately. Email is best. If a landlord later claims you caused damage by not reporting a leak or pest problem, having a timestamped record showing you did report it protects you entirely.

What Landlords Can and Cannot Do to Recover Repair Costs

When a tenant causes damage, landlords have legal avenues to recover the cost — but they cannot simply help themselves. In Ontario, a landlord cannot deduct repair costs from a last month's rent (LMR) deposit without an LTB order. If a landlord does this, the tenant can file a T1 application to recover the improperly applied amount.

The landlord's correct path in Ontario is to file an L2 application at the LTB for compensation for damage. They must prove on a balance of probabilities that: (1) the damage exists and was not present at the start of tenancy, (2) it was caused by the tenant or their guest, and (3) the claimed repair cost is reasonable.

In British Columbia and Alberta, the landlord can apply to the RTB or RTDRS respectively to recover proven repair costs caused by the tenant. In BC specifically, a landlord can also apply to retain a security deposit — up to half a month's rent — and must do so through the RTB; they cannot simply keep it without notifying the tenant and providing an opportunity to dispute.

In Quebec, there is no security deposit — landlords must pursue damage claims through the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) directly.