What’s New In The Ontario Residential Tenancies Act?
On January 31, 2007, the Government of Ontario brought into effect the new Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), replacing the old Tenant Protection Act that had been in effect since 1998. As a renter, perhaps the most important thing you can do is to simply know your rights by understanding what the RTA is all about and how it affects you as a tenant.
The new legislation applies to most types of residential rental properties in the province and outlines exactly how landlord-tenant relations will be governed. This includes protecting residential tenants from unlawful rent increases and evictions, establishing a framework for the regulation of residential rents and balancing the rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants in order to better resolve disputes.
RTA Trumps All
First, it is important to know that anything in your tenancy agreement that conflicts with the RTA is not valid. All limits and stipulations outlined in the RTA for areas such as rent increases and eviction procedures must be followed, even if your tenancy agreement says otherwise. For example, it is illegal for a landlord to require post-dated cheques from a tenant, even if the rental agreement says they are required.
Landlord and Tenant Board
The Landlord and Tenant Board is the new name for the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal, the governing body that settles disputes between landlords and tenants and enforces their rights. Both tenants and landlords can make applications to the Board, and if you and your landlord cannot agree on how to work out a problem, the Board will hold a hearing to resolve the situation.
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