Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (Ontario)
Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (Ontario) is a free service run by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for tenants anywhere in Ontario, including Toronto, who believe their landlord broke the Residential Tenancies Act. Checked on the official page on October 4, 2026.
You likely qualify if: Tenants anywhere in Ontario; Landlord broke the Residential Tenancies Act; Landlords can use it too.
No deadline, but act quickly on a lockout. Once another tenant is living in the unit, the Landlord and Tenant Board cannot order the landlord to let you back in.
Free. Never pay anyone to apply.
Call 416-585-7214Send to someone who needs thisChecked on October 4, 2026 on the official page
We last read this on October 4, 2026. That was a while ago, so please check their own website before you rely on it, and tell us below if something changed.
An Ontario government unit that deals with landlords or tenants who break the law under the Residential Tenancies Act. Offences include taking back a unit without following the legal process (an illegal lockout), changing the locks without giving the tenant a new key, cutting off or interfering with vital services like heat, water, electricity, natural gas or fuel, and harassing a tenant to move out. The unit can contact the other side with your consent, send a letter, follow up, and start an investigation that may lead to charges. Fines can reach $100,000 for a person and $500,000 for a corporation.
Who qualifies
Tenants anywhere in Ontario, including Toronto, who believe their landlord broke the Residential Tenancies Act. Landlords can also use it. You do not need to file an application. If your problem is not an offence, staff explain your rights and connect you with the Landlord and Tenant Board or another agency.
You likely qualify if:
- Tenants anywhere in Ontario
- Landlord broke the Residential Tenancies Act
- Landlords can use it too
How to apply
- Apply on their website.
- Questions? [email protected]
- Come back here and tell us if it worked.
Other ways, if that one is quiet
Where else they are
Their website is ontario.ca/page/solve-disagreement-your-lan....
Good to know
- CostFree
- LanguagesEnglish
- Their stepsIf you are locked out and need help right away, call the police. Call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at 416-585-7214 or 1-888-772-9277, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, or email [email protected], and explain what happened. With your consent, the unit contacts your landlord, sends a letter about the complaint and follows up. If the problem is not fixed, it can open an investigation that may lead to charges. For a lockout you can also apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board with Form T2, Application about Tenant Rights, to ask for an order to let you back in. You can also talk to a legal clinic, lawyer or paralegal.
Did this way in answer?
Talk to a person: call 2-1-1, any time
Something wrong? Tell us
What to bring
- A call or email explaining what happened
Dates
No deadline, but act quickly on a lockout. Once another tenant is living in the unit, the Landlord and Tenant Board cannot order the landlord to let you back in.
Something wrong? Tell us
We read all of this on their own website. If something has changed, tell us here. It takes 20 seconds, needs no account, and nothing is deleted: the old fact stays until a person checks yours.