Plain-language answer
If your landlord is not responding to repair requests, the general approach in Ontario is to escalate in stages while keeping careful records. Start by putting every request in writing — even a short text or email — and give the landlord a reasonable chance to respond.
If written requests do not work, two main official routes are commonly used. First, many municipalities have property standards or bylaw offices that can inspect a unit and may order a landlord to fix violations. Second, tenants can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board — commonly using a T6 application about maintenance — where remedies may include repair orders or rent abatement, depending on the evidence.
What you should not do, without legal advice, is stop paying rent. In Ontario, withholding rent over repairs can expose you to a non-payment eviction notice, even when your repair complaints are legitimate.
Why it matters
A pattern of ignored requests is very different, as evidence, from a single missed message. Building the record as you go is what makes escalation effective.
Long-running maintenance problems can also involve real costs — higher utility bills, damaged belongings, alternate arrangements — that are easy to lose track of without records.
Facts that affect the answer
Based on the information available, these are the kinds of facts that commonly change how a situation like this is assessed:
- How serious the problem is — urgent health and safety issues justify faster escalation than cosmetic ones.
- Whether your requests were in writing and whether you can show the landlord received them.
- How much time the landlord has had, and whether any partial attempts at repair were made.
- Whether a municipal inspector has confirmed a violation — an inspection report can be strong evidence.
- Whether the problem has cost you money or affected your use of the unit.
Evidence to preserve
Preserve these now, in their original form
- Every written request with its date, and proof of delivery where possible.
- A dated log of phone calls and in-person conversations, written down as soon as possible afterward.
- Photos and videos over time showing the problem persisting or getting worse.
- Municipal inspection reports, work orders, or file numbers.
- Receipts and records of costs the problem caused.
Common mistakes
- Escalating without first creating a written request the landlord clearly received.
- Withholding rent as leverage without legal advice.
- Accepting vague verbal promises indefinitely instead of asking for a repair date in writing.
- Filing an LTB application with thin evidence when a few more weeks of documentation would make it much stronger.
- Forgetting that the LTB has filing deadlines for some issues — getting advice early protects your options.
Possible official process
A commonly suggested sequence: written request, follow-up in writing, municipal property standards complaint if appropriate, and then an LTB tenant application if the problem still is not fixed.
The LTB process generally involves filing the application, receiving a hearing date, exchanging evidence, and attending a hearing where both sides are heard. Outcomes depend on the facts and cannot be promised in advance.
Community legal clinics can often advise on whether your evidence is ready and which application fits your situation.
Professional review recommended
Tools that help with this
Jurisdiction: Ontario · Last reviewed 2026-07-15 · currently under review. Rules, forms, and deadlines can change — always confirm against the official sources above.
This is legal information, not legal advice. RTO Pro is not a law firm. Deadlines and exceptions may apply to your situation — a qualified legal professional should confirm anything important before you rely on it.