Can a landlord suspend any services to a rental unit (e.g., heat, water, etc.)?
General Rule: It is illegal for a landlord to cut off or interfere with any vital services, even if your client does not pay their rent. Important services include:
- Water
- Hydro
- Gas
- Heat
- Meal service
- Care service
How You Can Help:
- Step 1: If your client’s landlord cuts off or interferes with any important services, this may be harassment. To assist your client, 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 might be able to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to get an order to restore the service using a T2 Application.
- Step 3: If your client is waiting to get a decision from the Landlord and Tenant Board, help them find a temporary solution. This can include:
- Finding somewhere else to stay until the problem is fixed
- Getting the service from a different source, if it’s a meal or care service
- Finding temporary rental accommodations (If your client does this, make sure you remind them to keep all of their receipts so they can present them to the Board)
- Step 4: Refer your client to a legal clinic.
