Your home is yours. Even your landlord must knock.
In Ontario, your landlord usually needs to give you 24 hours' written notice before entering — with the reason, the day, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Walking in whenever they like is not allowed. Here's what to do.
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In 30 seconds, here's what's true
- Your landlord must give at least 24 hours' written notice before entering your unit. The notice must state the reason, the day, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- A vague all-day window isn't good enough. The notice has to give a reasonable, specific time — 'sometime between 8 and 8' has been ruled not valid.
- A landlord can enter with proper notice for limited reasons: repairs or work, an inspection, showing the unit to a buyer, or letting a mortgage or insurance company view it.
- They can enter without notice only in narrow cases: a real emergency, if you agree at the time, to clean if your lease requires it, or to show the unit to a new tenant after notice to end the tenancy was given.
- If your landlord enters illegally, you can file a T2 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board — within one year. The Board can order a rent abatement (money back) and even a fine.
The steps your landlord must follow
Check whether the entry was actually legal
Was there 24 hours' written notice, with a reason, a day, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.? Was it for one of the allowed reasons? If not — and it wasn't an emergency or with your consent — it was likely illegal.
Tell your landlord, in writing
Politely remind them of the rule: 24 hours' written notice, proper reasons, between 8 and 8. Keep a copy. Often this alone stops it, and it creates a record if it doesn't.
Write down every entry
Keep a simple log: the date, the time, whether you got notice, and what happened. If it's a repeated pattern, this is your evidence that it's harassment or substantial interference.
Call the enforcement unit
Illegal entry is an offence. You can call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at 1-888-772-9277 — a free government service that can contact your landlord or investigate.
File a T2 if it continues
If it keeps happening, file a T2 application with the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year. You can ask for a rent abatement, an order to stop, and your costs. A legal clinic can help you prepare it.
What to do next
- Note the date and time of each entry and whether you received written notice.
- Keep any notices your landlord gave you (or note when none was given).
- Check each notice for the three musts: reason, day, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Send your landlord a written reminder of the entry rules and keep a copy.
- Take photos or save messages if entries are happening without notice.
- Call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (1-888-772-9277) if it continues.
- File a T2 with the LTB within one year if the pattern doesn't stop.
- Start a free PLAIN session to check if an entry was legal and plan your next step.
Common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| My landlord owns the place, so they can come in anytime. | No. Once you're renting, the law gives you the right to be left alone. Your landlord almost always needs 24 hours' written notice. |
| A text or a phone call counts as notice. | Notice of entry generally must be in writing and must state the reason, the day, and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. |
| They can enter whenever they want to inspect. | Inspections are allowed, but only with 24 hours' written notice and for a proper reason — not on a whim. |
| A notice that says 'between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.' is fine. | An entire-day window has been ruled too vague. The notice should give a reasonable, specific time. |
| My landlord can show the unit to buyers without telling me. | Showing the unit to a purchaser still requires 24 hours' written notice (an agent needs the landlord's written authorization). |
| I can change my own locks to keep them out. | A tenant can't change the locks without the landlord's consent. But the landlord also can't change them without giving you a key. |
| Nothing happens to a landlord who enters illegally. | Illegal entry is an offence. The LTB can order a rent abatement and a fine, and the enforcement unit can investigate. |
| It's too late to do anything about past entries. | You generally have one year to file a T2 about illegal entry, and you can include a pattern of events from within that year. |
Last reviewed June 2026
Written and reviewed by the founder of PLAIN, checked against primary government and legal sources. How we research these guides
Sources
- LTB Interpretation Guideline 19 — The Landlord's Right of Entry (s. 27: 24-hour written notice, 8 a.m.–8 p.m.)
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 25–27 (privacy, entry without notice, entry with notice)
- Ontario — Renting in Ontario: your rights (landlord entry, T2)
- Steps to Justice — My landlord entered without proper notice
PLAIN gives legal information, not legal advice. It is not a substitute for a lawyer or paralegal — and we'll point you to free ones. Laws change; we review these pages regularly, but always confirm current rules with the Landlord and Tenant Board.
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