⚖️ The Rules & Regulations
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Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) The "Bible" of Ontario rentals. It outlines the legal rights and responsibilities of both parties. Most private rentals are covered, though exceptions exist for some student residences and commercial units.
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Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) The only tribunal with the power to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants.
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2026 Rent Increase Guideline For 2026, the standard rent increase is capped at 2.1%. Remember: You must provide 90 days' notice using the N1 Form, and rent can only be increased once every 12 months.
🔍 Tenant Screening & Vetting
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OpenRoom A crowdsourced database where landlords and tenants upload LTB orders. It is a vital "first stop" to check if an applicant has a history of non-payment or legal disputes that haven't hit public records yet.
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CanLII (Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board) The official portal for published legal decisions.
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How to search: Use the "Document Text" field. Try searching the name in quotes (e.g., John Smith or with a plus sign (John+Smith).
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FrontLobby A tool that allows you to report rent payments to credit bureaus (Equifax/TransUnion). This incentivizes on-time payments and allows you to check an applicant's "Tenant Record" beyond just a basic credit score.
📝 Forms & Legal Support
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Ontario Standard Lease (OSL) Mandatory for most private tenancies signed after March 1, 2021. If you don't use this form, a tenant can legally withhold rent until you provide it.
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Landlord’s Self-Help Centre (LSHC) A non-profit community legal clinic funded by Legal Aid Ontario specifically for small-scale landlords. They offer free fact sheets, podcasts, and "Learning Modules" on how to fill out LTB forms correctly.
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Tribunals Ontario Portal The online system used to file applications (like the L1 or L2), upload evidence for hearings, and check the status of your case.
💡 Quick Checklist for New Landlords:
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Check OpenRoom & CanLII before signing anything.
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Use the Standard Lease—do not write your own contract.
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Perform a Credit Check via a service like SingleKey, Equifax, Transunion, or FrontLobby.
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Verify Occupancy Date: Units first occupied after Nov 15, 2018, are generally exempt from the 2.1% rent increase cap (though 90-day notice still applies).
