Landlord Entry and Tenant Privacy

The general rule: 24 hours' written notice

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), a landlord generally must give a tenant written notice at least 24 hours before entering the rental unit. The notice must state the reason for entry and the time of entry, which must generally fall between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. This rule exists to balance a landlord's legitimate need to access the property with a tenant's right to privacy and quiet enjoyment of their home.

Importantly, giving notice does not mean the landlord can pick any purpose they like — the reason must generally be one recognized under the RTA, discussed further below. A tenant does not have to be home for the landlord to enter once proper notice has been given, but the landlord should not enter significantly outside the stated time window without a new notice or the tenant's agreement at the time.

What counts as a permitted purpose

Common purposes that generally justify entry with proper notice include carrying out repairs or maintenance work, conducting an inspection to determine what repairs may be needed, showing the unit to prospective tenants when a tenancy is ending, or showing the unit to a prospective purchaser. Some housing providers may also need entry to comply with other legal requirements, such as certain safety inspections. Entry that is not tied to a legitimate, RTA-recognized purpose is generally not appropriate even if 24 hours' notice is given.

Exceptions to the notice requirement

The RTA recognizes a small number of situations where a landlord may enter without the usual 24-hour written notice:

• Emergencies — such as a fire, flood, gas leak, or another situation posing an immediate risk to health, safety, or the property.
• Tenant consent at the time — if the tenant agrees, in the moment, to let the landlord in, notice is generally not required for that specific entry.
• Abandonment — if a landlord reasonably believes the tenant has moved out and abandoned the unit, different rules apply that may permit entry to assess the situation.

Outside of these narrow exceptions, the general 24-hour written notice rule applies even to a landlord who owns the building or lives in another unit of the same property.

What proper notice should look like

Good practice for a compliant entry notice generally includes the date the notice is given, the specific date and a defined time (or reasonably narrow time window) for entry, the reason for entry, and the landlord's or agent's contact information. Many landlords use a written notice similar to the LTB's model notice of entry, though the RTA does not require a specific form — what matters is that the required information is included in writing and delivered with enough lead time.

If a landlord enters improperly

A tenant who believes a landlord has entered, or attempted to enter, without proper notice or without a legitimate purpose has several options. A good first step is often to raise the issue directly and in writing with the landlord, asking that future entries follow the RTA's notice requirements. Keeping a written log of dates, times, and what happened — along with any text messages, emails, or photos — helps if the issue continues or needs to be addressed formally.

Filing a complaint with the LTB

Where informal resolution does not work, a tenant may generally file a T2 application — "Tenant Application about Tenant Rights" — with the LTB, which covers issues including illegal entry and substantial interference with reasonable enjoyment of the rental unit. At a hearing, the LTB may consider the evidence and, depending on the facts, could order remedies such as an abatement of rent, compensation, or an order that the landlord stop the behaviour. As with other LTB matters, outcomes depend on the specific evidence presented and are decided case by case.

Related reading

Reviewed by Ryan J. Manilla, BA, JD

Legal Reviewer · Landlord Tenant Ontario