Your landlord can't force you out. Only a court can.
Changing the locks, removing your things, or shutting off your heat — these are illegal in Ontario, even if you owe rent. Only the LTB can order an eviction, and only the Sheriff can carry it out. Here's what to do.
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In 30 seconds, here's what's true
- Only the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) can order an eviction, and only the Sheriff (Court Enforcement Office) can carry it out. Your landlord can never do it themselves.
- Changing your locks without giving you a new key, removing your belongings, or shutting off your heat, water, or power is illegal — even if you're behind on rent.
- If you've been locked out, you can file an urgent T2 application with the LTB and ask for an interim order requiring the landlord to let you back in.
- Call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (RHEU) at 1-888-772-9277. They investigate illegal lockouts and can contact your landlord or lay charges.
- Starting July 1, 2026, fines for breaking these rules double — up to $100,000 for an individual landlord and $500,000 for a corporation.
The steps your landlord must follow
Ask for your key back — in writing
Contact your landlord, in writing if you can, and say a lockout is illegal and you want your key back. Keep a copy. Sometimes a clear, firm message (or one from a legal clinic) is enough.
Call the enforcement unit
Phone the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at 1-888-772-9277. They can contact your landlord, send a letter, or open an investigation. This is a free government service.
File an urgent T2
File a T2 application with the LTB, with a request to shorten time because it's urgent. Ask for an interim order requiring the landlord to let you back in right away.
Document everything
Photograph the changed lock or your removed belongings. Save messages, the date and time you were locked out, and any costs (hotel, eating out, lost property). This supports your claim for compensation.
Get urgent legal help
Call your local community legal clinic and ask for urgent help. If your things are at risk or you've nowhere to stay, say so — they can move faster. The police non-emergency line can sometimes help you re-enter too.
What to do next
- Write down the exact date and time you were locked out or forced out.
- Take photos of the changed locks, removed belongings, or shut-off utilities.
- Message your landlord in writing asking for your key back.
- Call the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit (1-888-772-9277).
- Save receipts for any costs caused by the lockout (hotel, food, lost items).
- File a T2 with the LTB and request to shorten time (urgent).
- Call your community legal clinic and ask for urgent assistance.
- Start a free PLAIN session to organize your T2 and your evidence.
Common myths
| Myth | Reality |
|---|---|
| If I don't pay rent, my landlord can change the locks. | No. Even with unpaid rent, only the LTB can order eviction and only the Sheriff can enforce it. A lockout is illegal. |
| An N12 or eviction notice means I have to leave right away. | No. A notice is just the first step. The landlord still needs an LTB order, and only the Sheriff can enforce it. |
| My landlord can shut off the heat or power to make me go. | Cutting off vital services like heat, water, or electricity to push you out is illegal under the RTA. |
| If I'm out for a few days, my landlord can toss my things. | Removing or disposing of your belongings without following the law is an illegal eviction. |
| The police can make me leave. | Police don't enforce evictions — only the Sheriff can, and only with an LTB order. Police may actually help you get back in. |
| There's nothing I can do once I'm locked out. | You can file an urgent T2, ask for an interim order to get back in, call the enforcement unit, and claim compensation. |
| I can't get money back for what this cost me. | On a T2, the LTB can order the landlord to pay for your costs and the trouble caused — and can fine them. |
| This rule is the same as it's always been, so no one takes it seriously. | From July 1, 2026 the maximum fines double — up to $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a corporation. |
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
- Ontario — Rental housing offences (illegal lockout, removing belongings, cutting services)
- ACTO — My landlord evicted me without following the law (only LTB / only Sheriff; T2)
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 21, 22, 24, 39 & 235 (vital services, lockout, enforcement, fines)
- Steps to Justice — What can I do if my landlord locks me out illegally?
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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