What if someone’s landlord changed their locks?

General Rule: If a tenant is living in a rental unit covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, it will be illegal for their landlord to lock them out/change the locks without an Eviction Order from the Landlord and Tenant Board. Even if the landlord has an order from the Landlord and Tenant Board, the landlord still cannot change the locks. Only the Court Enforcement Office (also known as the Sheriff) can change the locks. 

If a landlord has changed the locks without an order from the Landlord and Tenant Board, this is an illegal lockout. 

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: If you think your client has been illegally locked out by their landlord, you can call or email the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit
  • 416-585-7214 or 1-888-772-9277
  • MHO.RHEU.Info@Ontario.ca 
• Step 2: If your client is unable to solve the problem with their landlord, they can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to get an order to be let back in. They can do this by completing a T2 Application. They should indicate in their application that the matter is urgent. If your client would like to do so, refer them to a legal clinic.