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Can my landlord cut off my electricity or other utilities?
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It is illegal for your landlord to interfere with or cut off any "vital service". This includes hot or cold water, fuel, electricity, natural gas, and heat.
Your landlord is not allowed to do this even if you owe rent or for any other reason.
Your landlord must also make sure the utility bills are paid so the services do not get shut off. But your landlord is not responsible if the energy account is in your name and it is cut off because you didn't pay your bill. Many gas and hydro retailers have programs for people with low incomes who cannot afford to pay their energy bills.
1. Make sure your landlord knows about the problem
Your landlord may have cut off your utility on purpose. Or they might not know that someone working for them has done this. They also might have failed to pay the bill.
In any of these situations, you should tell your landlord that it is against the law and that they must take steps to restore the service right away.
Keep notes for yourself about when you talked to your landlord and what each of you said.
If your landlord does not fix the problem as soon as possible, send a letter or an email asking your landlord to fix the problem. Make sure to keep a copy for yourself.
Use this form to tell your landlord what needs to be fixed.
If a utility company has cut off your service, contact them to find out why. If it is because your landlord told them to turn it off or didn't pay a bill they were supposed to pay, ask the company to give you a letter telling you this. If the energy company will not give you a letter, make notes about who you spoke to at the company and what they said.
It is safest to keep paying your rent while you are trying to get your landlord to deal with the problem. If you do not pay all your rent for any reason, your landlord can try to have you evicted.
2. Talk to your neighbours
Find out if other tenants in your building have similar problems. You might be able to get more done if you work together.
If there are ongoing issues in your building or neighbourhood, you might want to think about forming a tenants' association.
3. Call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit
If the problem continues, you can contact the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU). The RHEU is part of the Ministry of Housing. Its job is to try to make sure landlords and tenants follow the law.
You can call the RHEU at these numbers:
Toll Free Phone Line: 1-888-772-9277
416 Dialling Area: 416-585-7214
Fax: 416-585-6464
Toll Free Fax Line: 1-866-321-4127
Sometimes landlords will change their behaviour when someone from the RHEU contacts them.
4. Call an inspector
If your landlord does not fix the problem, you can call your local property standards or by-law department, or your town or city hall, municipal office, or local councillor. Many cities, towns, and other municipalities have inspectors who can order your landlord to get the utility turned back on. If an inspector makes an order, you should ask for a copy of it.
If there are no housing standards by-laws where you live, the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU) is responsible for making sure landlords follow the provincial standards. You can call the RHEU at 1-888-772-9277.
5. Apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board
If your landlord still does not fix the problem, you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board. The Board is like a special court that decides disputes between tenants and landlords.
When you apply, the Board will schedule a hearing where you and your landlord can each explain the situation to a member of the Board. Before the hearing, you and your landlord can try to settle your problems yourselves or with the help of a Board employee.
At the hearing, it is up to you to convince the Board member about the problem. It is very important to bring evidence to your hearing, for example, witnesses, inspectors' reports, work orders, letters, notes, or anything else that can help you prove your case to the Board member.