Residential Tenancies Act: the Basics

This webinar is brought to you by CLEONet www.cleonet.ca CLEONet is a web site of legal information for community workers and advocates who work with low-income and disadvantaged communities in Ontario. 2010, Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton) Inc. About our presenter Sheeba Sibal is a staff lawyer at West Scarborough Community Legal Services (WSCLS), a community legal clinic in Toronto. Sheeba joined WSCLS as a community legal worker in 1990. In 2009, she was called to the Bar and was then hired as a Staff Lawyer. RESIDENTIAL TENANCIES ACT: THE BASICS for Tenants

Webinar presented by Sheeba Sibal of West Scarborough Community Legal Services Prepared by WSCLS, December 2010 WHAT WILL BE COVERED 4 Introduction and Highlights

The Lease Rules about Rent Termination of tenancy by tenant Privacy Maintenance, Repairs and Vital Services Evictions Resources INTRODUCTION AND HIGHLIGHTS 5

Residential Tenancies Act Landlord and Tenant Board Who is covered by the RTA Information for New Tenants Supremacy of RTA Application of the Ontario Human Rights Code Special Rules for Subsidized Housing Tenants Investigations Branch - Provincial Property Standards THE LEASE

6 Can be in writing or verbal Essentials of lease required by law What should be in the lease for clarity Cooling off period Supremacy of RTA over lease Copy of lease Lease renewal and month to month tenancy Post dated cheques THE LEASE Continued Reasons for refusing lease and discrimination Before you sign your lease Condition of premises What can a landlord ask?

Extra fees for services Parking charges 7 RULES ABOUT RENT Vacancy de-control

8 Old buildings New buildings Security deposits Key deposit Last Months rent Interest on LMR Rent receipts Rent increase and notices of Rent Increase Above Guideline increases Rent reduction TERMINATION OF TENANCY BY TENANT Notice to Terminate by tenant form and notice period

Sublet or assignment Consequences of early termination by tenant Agreement to Terminate Security of tenure 9 PRIVACY Right of tenant Right of landlord Notice to enter Inspections Locks by tenants Door alarms 10 MAINTENANCE,REPAIRS AND VITAL

SERVICES 11 Landlords obligation Tenants responsibilities How to get repairs and pest control done Work orders from property standards Rent reduction T6 application Maintenance issues and arrears of rent Temperature: As per Property Standards By Law Vital services

EVICTIONS Early termination of tenancy for cause Termination of tenancy at end of term Voidable and non-voidable notices of termination The hearing and eviction process Avoiding evictions for arrears of rent

12 Notice of Application and Notice of Hearing Hearing / Mediation Order of LTB Sheriffs notice Before Hearing After Hearing Before Sheriff comes RESOURCES for Tenants Telephone - Provincial 13

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Investigation and Enforcement Unit 1-888-772-9777 Landlord and Tenant Board 1-888-332-3234 Legal Aid Ontario (LAO) 1-800-668-8258 Advocacy Center for Tenants Ontario ( ACTO)

1-866-245-4182 Center for Equality Rights in in Accommodation (CERA) 1-800-263-1139 ext. 22 RESOURCES for Tenants- Cont. WEBSITES - Provincial Ministry for Municipal Affairs & Housing, Investigations and Enforcement unit http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page142.aspx Landlord and Tenant Board http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/

Legal Aid Ontario for the Legal Clinic in your area http://www.legalaid.on.ca/en/contact/contact.asp?type=cl 14 Advocacy Center for Tenants http://www.acto.ca/ Center for Equality Rights in Accomodation http://www.equalityrights.org/cera/ RESOURCES for Tenants- Cont. CITY OF TORONTO Telephone

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (416) 585-7214 Landlord and Tenant Board (416)645-8080 Legal Aid Ontario (416) 979-1446 City of Toronto Property Standards Department 311 Tenants Hot Line (Federation of Metro Tenants Association - FMTA) (416) 921-9494 Advocacy Center for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) (416) 597-5855 (Investigation and Enforcement Unit) 15

RESOURCES for Tenants Cont. CITY OF TORONTO Websites City of Toronto - Property Standard by laws http://app.toronto.ca/ApartmentStandards/vie wDownload.do Federation 16 of Metro Tenants Association www.torontotenants.org/ This webinar was brought to you by CLEONet

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