Under Ontario law, landlords must repair or replace a broken refrigerator supplied with the rental unit within a “reasonable time,” typically 48 to 72 hours. If they fail to act, you can file a T6 Application at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) for an abatement of rent and to recover the cost of spoiled food, with a filing fee of $48 CAD if filed online ($53 CAD for paper filing).
Coming home to an apartment in Ottawa, Hamilton, or Brampton to find a puddle of water and a warm refrigerator is incredibly stressful. Groceries are expensive, and a broken fridge is not a minor inconvenience—it is an urgent maintenance emergency. Renters often wonder exactly how long their landlord has to dispatch an appliance repair technician or provide a replacement.
Generally, Section 20 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) mandates that a landlord is responsible for maintaining the rental unit and any included appliances in a good state of repair. While the RTA does not state a specific number of hours or days, case law at the LTB has established that vital appliances like refrigerators must be fixed within a “reasonable time.” Because food safety is at risk, most legal professionals in this province consider 48 to 72 hours to be the maximum acceptable delay. 🔨
Step-by-Step Process for Handling a Broken Fridge in Ontario
If your refrigerator stops working, you must take immediate, documented action. The process generally follows these steps to ensure you are legally protected and can claim compensation for your losses.
Step 1: Notify the Landlord in Writing Immediately
The moment you discover the appliance is failing, contact your landlord or property management. Do not rely solely on a phone call. Send an email or use the building’s official maintenance portal to create a written, time-stamped record. State clearly that the fridge is broken, food is at risk of spoiling, and urgent repair is required.
Step 2: Mitigate Your Losses
Under Canadian civil law, you have a duty to “mitigate” (minimise) your damages. You cannot simply watch $300 worth of meat spoil if you can prevent it. Ask a neighbour to store high-value items, buy a cooler with ice, or ask the landlord to provide a temporary mini-fridge. If you do not attempt to save your food, an adjudicator may reduce the compensation you receive later. 🩲
Step 3: Facilitate Entry for Repairs
Your landlord must take steps to fix the issue, but they must do so legally. Under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), a broken refrigerator does not qualify as an ’emergency’ under Section 26(1)(a) that allows entry without notice. Unless you provide direct verbal consent to entry at the door under Section 26(1)(b), the landlord must give you a formal 24-hour written notice of entry under Section 27(1). This notice must specify the date, reason for entry, and a reasonable time window between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Unauthorized entry without proper notice or consent is a breach of your right to privacy under Section 22 and constitutes illegal entry, which could allow you to file a T2 application for compensation. Once lawful notice is served or consent is provided, you must facilitate the repair and not block the technician.
Step 4: Do Not Withhold Your Rent
A common mistake tenants make is threatening to stop paying rent until the appliance is fixed. This is strictly prohibited under the RTA. Withholding rent gives your landlord the legal right to issue an N4 eviction notice. You must continue to pay your full rent on the first of the month, even if you are eating takeout every night because the fridge is broken. 💰
Step 5: File a T6 Application at the LTB
If days turn into weeks and the landlord ignores the problem, you can file a T6 Application (Tenant Application about Maintenance) with the Landlord and Tenant Board. You can request an order forcing the landlord to repair the fridge, an abatement (reduction) of your rent for the days you lived without the appliance, and financial reimbursement for the groceries that spoiled.
How Much Does it Cost in Ontario?
Dealing with a broken appliance involves LTB fees and out-of-pocket expenses for food loss. Typical costs in Canadian dollars (CAD) as of May 2026 include:
| Expense / Claim Type | Estimated Cost (CAD) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| LTB T6 Filing Fee | $48 – $53 | Provincial fee to formally launch a maintenance complaint at the LTB ($48 if filed online via Tribunals Ontario Portal, $53 if filed by paper). |
| Typical Food Spoilage Claim | $100 – $400 | Compensation you can demand from the landlord for ruined groceries (keep receipts). |
| Mini-Fridge Purchase | $150 – $250 | Cost of a temporary cooler, which you may ask the LTB to force the landlord to reimburse. |
| Paralegal Consultation | $150 – $300 | Legal advice for building a strong T6 application and presenting evidence. |
How Long Does the Process Take?
A responsible landlord will repair or swap the refrigerator within 2 to 3 days. However, if they refuse and you must file a T6 application at the LTB, the legal timeline is lengthy. Due to massive provincial backlogs, it currently takes an average of 6 to 9 months to get a hearing in Ontario. During this time, an adjudicator may allow you to repair the fridge yourself and be reimbursed later, but you must ask for an expedited hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I buy a new fridge and deduct it from my rent?
No. Unilateral rent deductions are illegal in Ontario. If you purchase your own appliance, you must file a T6 application at the LTB to ask the adjudicator to legally order the landlord to reimburse you for the out-of-pocket expense.
What if the fridge belongs to me, not the landlord?
If you brought your own refrigerator when you moved in, the landlord is entirely exempt from fixing it. Section 20 of the RTA only requires landlords to maintain appliances that are included in the original lease agreement.
Do I need receipts for my spoiled food?
Yes. The LTB relies heavily on documentary evidence. If you are claiming $300 in spoiled food, you must provide grocery receipts, photographs of the spoiled items in the trash, or bank statements proving the loss.
Can the landlord charge me for the repair?
Generally, no. Normal wear and tear is the landlord’s financial responsibility. However, if the appliance technician proves that you willfully damaged the fridge (e.g., smashing a shelf or piercing the freon line with a knife), the landlord can serve you an N5 notice and demand you pay for the repair.
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