Learn how rental rules have changed during COVID-19 for landlords (taken from the Ontario Government website).

Landlord and Tenant Board

Counter services are closed, but the most common types of landlord applications can still be filed online. In-person hearings are suspended until further notice, however the Landlord and Tenant Board will consider written and telephone hearings for matters not related to evictions, where feasible.

Landlords can give tenants an eviction notice, but eviction hearings and orders are on hold except for urgent disputes such as those involving illegal acts or serious safety concerns.

Enforcement of eviction orders is suspended until further notice. In urgent circumstances, landlords could go to court to get an eviction order enforced. While the Superior Court of Justice has suspended all regular court operations, the court has a process to ensure that urgent motions can still be heard.

Paying Rent

Landlords are entitled to collect compensation from a tenant for each day an eviction order is not enforced, and tenants should still pay rent. However, tenants who are asked to self-isolate or who can’t work may have difficulty affording their rent.

We encourage landlords and tenants to work together during this difficult time to establish fair arrangements to keep tenants in their homes. If your tenant is having challenges making rent, talk to them about deferring their rent or other payment arrangements.

Landlords may also wish to refer tenants to the local service manager for financial help with rent, or to federal government programs.

Managing costs

On Tuesday, March 24, time-of-use electricity pricing was suspended for 45 days. Rates for time-of-use customers are set at the lowest price, known as the off-peak price (10.1 cents/kWh), 24 hours a day. You don’t need to do anything; this change will be applied automatically for everyone paying time-of-use rates.

Property tax payments can also be deferred to municipalities by 90 days. Landlords may wish to talk to their municipality about help with property taxes and municipal service fees. They may also want to investigate federal government programs or inquire with their mortgage lender about mortgage payment deferrals.

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