Residential Tenancies Rental Agreement

On January 31, 2007, the Ontario government has indeed the new Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), which replaces the old Law on the Protection of tenants who had been in effect since 1998. As a tenant, 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.

New legislation covers most types of rental housing in the province and describes exactly how the landlord-tenant relationship is governed. This includes protecting residential tenants against rent increases and unlawful evictions, establishing a framework for the regulation of residential rents and balancing rights and responsibilities of residential landlords and tenants in order to better resolve disputes .

RTA trumps everything

First, it is important to know that something in your lease that is incompatible with the FSA is not valid. All limits and provisions set out in the FSA for areas such as rent increases and eviction procedures must be followed even if your lease says otherwise. For example, it is illegal for a landlord to require post-dated checks from a tenant, even if the lease says they are needed.

and Commission on Landlord and Tenant

The Tenant is the new name for the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal, the Administrative Council, which decides disputes between landlords and tenants and enforces their rights. Tenants and landlords can apply to the Commission, and if you and your landlord can not agree on how to work a problem, the Council will hold a hearing to resolve the situation.

Rent Increases

Although rent increases are carefully monitored by the RTA, before a tenant moves in, the owners can demand what they want from a vacant unit. However, after you move, your landlord must wait at least 12 months before increasing your rent and any increases after that must be at least 12 months apart. Your landlord must also give you at least 90 days notice before the rent increases.

These rent increases must follow the guidelines established by the annual rent the provincial government. For 2007, the government has determined that landlords can increase rent by up to 2.6 percent. To increase the rent by more than this guideline, your landlord must apply to the Tenant for approval. The Council may allow a higher increase guideline only:

• Capital expenditures, including repairs and renovations that are not part of normal, routine maintenance;


• The cost of hiring a security service;


• Exceptionally large increases in property taxes or utility costs.

Privacy

According to the CAB, your landlord can enter your house without telling you beforehand that if there is an emergency or if your landlord gives you cleaning services. Otherwise, your landlord must give you written notice 24 hours in advance and can not enter your place between 8:00 and 8:00, even if it is to make repairs or inspections.

Once you have given notice to leave or agree to terminate your lease, the landlord may enter your place to show it to a new tenant as long as your landlord is making reasonable efforts to allow you to know when the screening will take place.

The move and with notice

Believe me or not, you do not get out immediately because your lease expires - your tenancy will automatically continue on a month by month until you or your landlord does something to stop it. Non-renewal of your Lea.