Tenants

The City of Oshawa is committed to ensuring social equity, cultural vitality and accountability to all community members and visitors.

The City understands the significant concerns related to being a tenant. To assist, we provide current information and contacts that may be useful for tenants throughout the City. Oshawa's Tenant Information Guide has tips and contacts, including those who can ensure that renters are being treated fairly under the law. It also has information to ensure each rental unit is safe, properly equipped and maintained according to established standards.

In addition to the City's Tenant Information Guide, the Landlord and Tenant Board has developed an Information for New Tenants brochure. Landlords must provide this information to new tenants on or before the date their tenancy begins. This ensures that new tenants have information about their rights and responsibilities when they enter into a tenancy agreement.

Tenant information

The Province of Ontario requires landlords of most private residential rental units (including individual landlords and property management companies) to use the standard lease template for all new leases. For more information on the new requirement, visit the Province's standard lease webpage or contact the Landlord Tenant Board

Renting in Oshawa

As a tenant in Ontario, and specifically in the City of Oshawa, you have rights under the law that provide you with basic levels of protection. Those laws include:

These tools allow tenants to ensure that they are represented fairly and protected in their particular living situations.

Residential Tenancies Act

The Ontario Residential Tenancies Act establishes basic "ground rules" for tenants and landlords regarding rental rights and obligations. As a tenant, the most common rental issues that you may face that involve the Landlord and Tenant Board include:

Rent: Disputes involving rent increases, rent deposits, and methods of payment
Landlord & Tenant Disputes: Mediation involving disputes between the landlord and tenant
Tenancy Agreements: New Tenancy agreements, ending or renewing a tenancy agreement and subletting
Eviction: Reasons for eviction and the eviction process

The Residential Tenancies Act is the responsibility of the Province of Ontario. Contact the Landlord and Tenant Board for more information at 1-888-332-3234.

The Landlord and Tenant Board's “Brochure: Information for New Tenants” provides vital information for new tenants.

City of Oshawa standards

The City of Oshawa has by-laws which apply to rental properties. These by-laws include provisions which can assist in ensuring that the rental units meet standards of safety and occupancy. The by-laws and services that you should be aware of include:

Property Standards: Minimum standards exist to ensure that your rental unit is safe, suitably equipped and properly maintained
Lot Maintenance: Minimum standards exist to ensure that properties are kept clear of waste and debris
Adequate Heat: Rental units must be heated to a minimum of 22 °C from September 1 to June 15 of the following year
Parking Standards: Parking standards exist concerning the minimum number of spaces required to be provided as well as how and where you park your vehicle
Noise: Excessive noise is not permitted
Fire Services: conducts inspections to help make your dwelling fire safe
Building Services reviews permit plans and conducts inspections to ensure that construction is completed following the Ontario Building Code

Fire safety: working smoke alarms

Working fire safety devices including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide and fire extinguishers can save lives.

Landlords and homeowners are required by law to have working smoke alarms. Smoke alarms should be tested monthly and replaced if they are more than ten years old. In addition to working smoke alarms, individuals should know what to do when the alarms sound, plan escape routes and practice their escape plans.

The fine for non-working smoke alarms is up to $50,000 for an individual and/or one-year imprisonment.

Steps to resolving tenant issues

Depending on your issues or concerns, you may need to contact:

The Landlord & Tenant Board, and/or
The City of Oshawa

Before contacting the Board or the City, there are some important steps you need to follow:

Understand your rights and responsibilities and those of your landlord
Be able to communicate what the problem is clearly
If the issue is the responsibility of the landlord; inform the landlord about the problem in writing and keep a copy of this request and any work order for your records
If, after informing the landlord about the problem, the landlord does not take steps to respond or to address your concerns within a reasonable time period, contact one or both of the agencies noted above

Note: Do not submit complaints to the Board or the City until you have followed these steps. If the issue is an emergency, contact the appropriate emergency responders.

Resources

City of Oshawa - Service Oshawa
905-436-3311
Service Oshawa

Durham Region Social Services
Department
905-668-7711
Durham.ca/socialservices

Durham Region Health Department
(Bed Bug, Mould Information)
905-723-3818
Durham.ca/health

Oshawa Fire Services
Emergency: 9-1-1
Fire Prevention: 905-436-3311
Oshawa Fire Services

Durham Region Police Service
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergency: 905-579-1520
drps.ca

Landlord & Tenant Board
(Province of Ontario)
1-888-332-3234
tribunalsontario.ca/ltb

Durham Community Legal Clinic
905-728-7321
1-888-297-2202
durhamcommunitylegalclinic.ca

Legal Aid Ontario
1-800-668-8258
legalaid.on.ca

Access to Justice Hub
905-728-7321
1-888-297-2202
durhamcommunitylegalclinic.ca/partners-projects/durham-access-to-justice-hub/

This webpage will be updated with additional information and contacts as they become available.

Service Oshawa
Oshawa City Hall
50 Centre St. S.
Oshawa, ON L1H 3Z7
Phone: 905-436-3311
Toll Free: 1-800-667-4292
Email: service@oshawa.ca