If an Ontario landlord uses aggressive texts, threats, or illegal entry to force you out during an eviction process, you can file a T2 Application with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). A successful T2 can result in significant rent abatements, fines against the landlord, and an order to immediately stop the harassment.
Facing an eviction is one of the most stressful experiences a person can endure. The anxiety is exponentially worse when a landlord decides to bypass the legal system and take matters into their own hands. In cities like Toronto, Windsor, and Sudbury, some landlords resort to intimidation tactics-such as sending relentless aggressive text messages, showing up unannounced, cutting off utilities, or threatening to change the locks-to force a tenant out before a formal hearing can take place.
In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) heavily penalizes landlords who engage in self-help evictions or harassment. 📍 Even if you are behind on rent or facing a valid N12 eviction notice, you retain your full legal rights until the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) issues an official eviction order and the Sheriff arrives. The T2 Application (Application about Tenant Rights) is your legal shield against bullying. Consulting a local tenant rights paralegal or lawyer can help you build an airtight T2 case to stop the harassment and secure financial compensation.
Step-by-Step Process for Filing a T2 Application in Ontario
Filing a T2 requires strong documentation. You must prove that the landlord substantially interfered with your reasonable enjoyment of the unit or harassed, coerced, or threatened you. Here is the process.
Step 1: Documenting the Harassment
Evidence is the foundation of any LTB case. You must start a detailed log. Save every aggressive text message, email, and voicemail. If the landlord shows up without providing 24 hours’ written notice, record the date, time, and what was said. If they enter your unit illegally, take photos or use a security camera. This evidence proves a pattern of harassment rather than a one-off misunderstanding.
Step 2: Sending a Cease and Desist Message
Before filing the T2, send a clear, written message to your landlord. 📝 State plainly: “Please stop texting me multiple times a day and do not enter my unit without 24 hours’ legal written notice. Your actions constitute harassment under the RTA.” This proves to the LTB that you asked the landlord to stop, and they chose to continue the illegal behaviour.
Step 3: Completing the T2 Form
Download the T2 Form from the Tribunals Ontario website. In the application, you will select the specific reasons for filing, such as “The landlord entered my rental unit illegally” or “The landlord harassed, coerced, obstructed, threatened or interfered with me.” You will be asked to outline the remedies you seek, which can include a rent abatement (a partial refund of rent paid), a fine against the landlord, or an order explicitly forbidding them from contacting you directly.
Step 4: Filing via the Tribunals Ontario Portal
Submit your completed T2 application and your compiled evidence through the online Tribunals Ontario Portal. 💻 You must pay the filing fee unless you qualify for a fee waiver based on low income. Once filed, you must legally serve a copy of the application and the Notice of Hearing to your landlord.
Step 5: Using Section 83 at the Eviction Hearing
If you are waiting for a T2 hearing, but the landlord’s eviction hearing happens first, you can raise the harassment under Section 83 of the RTA. Under this section, an LTB adjudicator can refuse to grant the landlord’s eviction order-even if the eviction is otherwise valid-if they find the landlord is in serious breach of their obligations or has heavily harassed the tenant.
How Much Does it Cost in Ontario?
Filing a T2 is relatively inexpensive, but the financial compensation you can receive from an abusive landlord can be substantial.
| Expense / Remedy | Financial Amount (CAD) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| LTB Filing Fee | $53 CAD | The standard cost to file a T2. This can be completely waived if you have a low income. |
| Legal Representation | $200 to $500 / hour | Fees for a paralegal or lawyer to organize your evidence and advocate at the LTB. |
| Rent Abatement (Payout) | Varies (Up to $35,000) | The LTB can order the landlord to refund months of rent due to severe harassment. |
| Administrative Fines | Up to $35,000 | The LTB can fine the landlord payable to the Board for egregious breaches of the RTA. |
Do not let the cost of legal help deter you; many community legal clinics in Ontario provide free assistance for severe harassment cases.
How Long Does the Process Take?
Filing the T2 application online only takes an hour, but the LTB process is slow. Currently, waiting for a T2 hearing date can take anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Because of this delay, if the landlord’s harassment puts you in immediate physical danger or they lock you out illegally, you should bypass the LTB wait and immediately contact the police or the Ontario Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Should I stop paying rent because of the harassment?
No. In Ontario, you must never withhold your rent, even if the landlord is breaking the law. Withholding rent gives the landlord legal grounds to evict you for non-payment. Continue paying rent and seek your financial compensation through the T2 application process.
Can I call the police if my landlord is harassing me?
Yes, if the situation is an emergency. If the landlord threatens physical violence, attempts to physically remove you, or breaks into your unit without notice and refuses to leave, you should call 911. Police can intervene to prevent a breach of the peace.
What is the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU)?
The RHEU is a provincial body that enforces the RTA much faster than the LTB. If your landlord illegally changes the locks or cuts off vital services (like water or heat) to force you out, calling the RHEU can result in an investigator contacting the landlord immediately with threats of provincial fines.
What counts as an illegal entry in Ontario?
A landlord must provide 24 hours’ written notice stating the date, time (between 8 AM and 8 PM), and exact reason for entry. Entering without this notice is illegal, unless there is a genuine emergency like a flood or fire, or if you consent to them entering at that exact moment.
Can the landlord take photos of my unit during an eviction?
Yes, but with strict limits. They can take photos of the property for a real estate listing if they gave proper 24 hours’ notice, but they must avoid capturing your personal items, family photos, or using the photos to mock or harass you online.
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