Emergency help for Ontario tenants

1. Immediate safety

• If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
• Get somewhere safe and warm. In extreme weather, call 2-1-1 for a shelter or warming space.
• Keep your phone charged and with you.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Photograph or video the changed lock or blocked door, showing the date and time if you can.
• Save every text, email, and voicemail from your landlord about the lockout.
• Write down who was there, what was said, and the exact time.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Your lease or rental agreement.
• Any notice, letter, or order you received.
• ID or mail that shows this is your address.
• Rent receipts or e-transfer records.

4. Who to contact

• Landlord and Tenant Board (Tribunals Ontario) — ask about urgent tenant applications
• Your community legal clinic — find it through Legal Aid Ontario
• Police non-emergency line — to create a record if you are being denied entry (police do not decide tenancy disputes)
• 2-1-1 Ontario — emergency housing if you cannot get in tonight
• 911 — only if anyone is in immediate danger

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not force entry or break locks.
• Do not damage property.
• Do not confront your landlord or anyone at the unit.
• Do not stop documenting — keep saving messages and taking dated notes.
• Do not sign anything you are pressured to sign.

6. Legal help

A lockout that was not ordered by the LTB and enforced by the Court Enforcement Office (sheriff) may be unlawful and may require urgent legal help.

7. Emergency housing

• Call 2-1-1 any time for emergency shelter options near you.
• Your municipality's shelter or housing help services can also assist.

1. Immediate safety

• Do not obstruct or argue with the sheriff. Enforcement officers are carrying out a court process.
• Plan now for children, pets, medication, and important documents so nothing essential is left behind.
• If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Keep every document the sheriff or landlord gives you.
• Take a dated video walkthrough of the unit's condition before you leave.
• Write down dates, times, and the names of anyone involved.

3. Documents to photograph now

• The eviction order and any notice from the Court Enforcement Office.
• All LTB documents and hearing notices you have.
• Your lease and rent-payment records.
• Each room and your belongings, before anything is moved.

4. Who to contact

• Landlord and Tenant Board — ask right away whether any urgent steps are still open in your case; in some situations options may remain, and only a legal professional can confirm this
• Your community legal clinic — same-day advice may be possible
• 2-1-1 Ontario — emergency housing planning
• 911 — only if anyone is in immediate danger

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not ignore documents from the sheriff or the LTB — read them and get help understanding them.
• Do not refuse to leave or physically resist enforcement.
• Do not confront the landlord or the enforcement officers.
• Do not stop documenting.

6. Legal help

Contact a legal clinic or lawyer the same day if you can. Time matters most in this situation, and deadlines and exceptions may apply.

7. Emergency housing

• Call 2-1-1 before enforcement day if possible, so a housing plan is ready.
• Ask your municipality about shelter services and housing help centres.

1. Immediate safety

• Do not physically intervene or block anyone. Your safety comes first.
• If anyone is threatening you or property is being destroyed in front of you, call 911.

2. Evidence to preserve

• From a safe distance, video the removal: who is doing it, what is taken, and when.
• Note company names, truck licence plates, and the names of any workers.
• Get names and numbers of witnesses.
• Keep receipts for anything you must replace or store.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Your belongings before and during removal, if it is safe to do so.
• Any note or notice left on the door.
• Proof of ownership you already have — receipts, photos, serial numbers.

4. Who to contact

• Your landlord, in writing — ask where your items are and how to get them back. Keep a copy.
• Your community legal clinic — via Legal Aid Ontario
• Landlord and Tenant Board — ask about tenant applications
• Police non-emergency line — if you believe your property may be taken unlawfully

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not use force to take items back.
• Do not damage property or confront anyone.
• Do not stop documenting — a dated record of what was removed is your strongest tool.

6. Legal help

Rules about a tenant's belongings depend on how and why the tenancy ended. A legal professional should review your situation quickly.

1. Immediate safety

• In extreme cold or heat, this can be a health emergency. Call 2-1-1 for warming or cooling spaces.
• Check on children, seniors, and anyone with health conditions in your household.
• Never use a barbecue, oven, or outdoor heater to heat your home — carbon monoxide can kill.
• If anyone is in medical distress, call 911.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Photograph a thermometer reading with the date and time, or video taps running dry.
• Keep a dated log: when the service stopped, every day it stays off, and how it affects you.
• Save every message you send to and receive from your landlord.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Your lease, especially any part about utilities and what is included.
• Utility bills or disconnection notices.
• Earlier complaints or repair requests you sent.

4. Who to contact

• Your landlord, in writing — describe the problem and ask for a repair date. Keep a copy.
• Municipal property standards or bylaw enforcement — many municipalities enforce heat and vital-service standards. Call 2-1-1 or check your city's website for the number.
• Your community legal clinic — via Legal Aid Ontario
• Landlord and Tenant Board — ask about tenant applications for maintenance and vital services

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not stop paying rent on your own — get legal advice before changing anything about rent.
• Do not attempt risky repairs to gas, electrical, or plumbing systems yourself.
• Do not confront your landlord — keep everything in writing.
• Do not stop documenting.

6. Legal help

A legal clinic can explain what applications may be available and what compensation may be possible. Deadlines and exceptions may apply.

7. Emergency housing

• If the unit becomes unlivable, call 2-1-1 for emergency housing options.

1. Immediate safety

• If you are in danger right now, call 911. Nothing on this page comes before that.
• Go somewhere safe and tell someone you trust where you are.
• Call 2-1-1 to be connected with victim services and safe shelter, any time of day.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Save threatening texts, emails, and voicemails — do not delete them.
• Keep a dated log of every incident: what happened, when, where, and who saw it.
• If police attend, write down the officers' names and any report or occurrence number.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Any damage to your door, locks, or belongings.
• Notes or letters left for you.
• Injuries — after you have received medical care.

4. Who to contact

• 911 — if anyone is in immediate danger
• Police non-emergency line — to report incidents that are not happening right now
• 2-1-1 Ontario — victim services, safe shelter, and crisis supports
• Your community legal clinic — via Legal Aid Ontario
• Landlord and Tenant Board — ask about tenant applications for harassment or interference

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not retaliate or confront the person threatening you.
• Do not meet them alone, even to talk things out.
• Do not delete messages, even upsetting ones — they are evidence.

6. Legal help

Threats and harassment can involve both criminal law and tenancy law. A legal professional can help you understand both paths.

7. Emergency housing

• Call 2-1-1 for safe emergency shelter — it operates 24 hours a day.
• Your municipality's shelter services can also help.

1. Immediate safety

• If a child or anyone's health is at immediate risk, call 911 now.
• For urgent medication needs, ask a pharmacist — in some cases they may be able to help with an emergency supply of certain prescriptions. Health811 (call 8-1-1) can also give health advice.
• If a pet is in distress inside, contact your municipality's animal services.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Write a list of exactly what is inside and why it is essential.
• Save your written requests to the landlord and any replies.
• Note every attempt you make to get access, with dates and times.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Any note or notice on the door.
• Texts or letters about the lockout.
• Photos you already have of the items or pets inside.

4. Who to contact

• Your landlord, in writing, right away — request supervised access to essential items. Keep a copy.
• Police non-emergency line — ask if an officer can attend to help you retrieve essentials safely
• 911 — if anyone's safety is at immediate risk
• Your community legal clinic — urgently, via Legal Aid Ontario
• 2-1-1 Ontario — for emergency supports while you sort this out

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not force entry, even for essentials — ask police to attend instead.
• Do not damage property.
• Do not confront anyone at the unit.
• Do not stop documenting your requests for access.

6. Legal help

Being cut off from essentials makes your situation urgent. Tell the legal clinic exactly what is inside — it may change how quickly they can act.

1. Immediate safety

• If you smell gas, leave right away and call 911 from outside.
• If a carbon monoxide or smoke alarm sounds, get everyone out first, then call 911.
• Do not stay in a space with exposed live wiring, major structural damage, or flooding near electrical outlets.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Photograph and video the hazard from several angles, with dates.
• Keep a log of when the problem started, how it has changed, and any health effects.
• Save every repair request and landlord reply.

3. Documents to photograph now

• The hazard itself and anything it has damaged.
• Your lease and earlier complaints.
• Any inspection reports or work orders you have seen.

4. Who to contact

• 911 — for any immediate danger such as gas, fire, or carbon monoxide
• Municipal property standards or bylaw enforcement — they can inspect and may issue orders. Call 2-1-1 to find the local number.
• Your landlord, in writing — report the hazard and keep a copy.
• Your community legal clinic — via Legal Aid Ontario
• Landlord and Tenant Board — ask about tenant applications for maintenance and repair

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not attempt dangerous repairs yourself.
• Do not stop paying rent on your own — get legal advice first.
• Do not remove or disable smoke or carbon monoxide alarms.
• Do not stop documenting.

6. Legal help

An inspector's order plus your own dated records can matter a great deal later. A legal clinic can explain the options that may apply.

7. Emergency housing

• If you cannot safely stay, call 2-1-1 for emergency housing.

1. Immediate safety

• Call 2-1-1 now — it is free, confidential, and answers 24 hours a day. Ask for emergency shelter near you.
• Keep essentials on you: ID, medication, phone, charger, keys, and some cash if you have it.
• If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.

2. Evidence to preserve

• Keep every notice, order, and message about losing your housing.
• Keep receipts for emergency costs — transit, food, storage, a room. Record them in the Expense Tracker.
• Note dates, times, and names for everything that happens today.

3. Documents to photograph now

• Your ID, lease, and any notice or order — before papers get lost in a move.
• Your unit and belongings, if you still have access.

4. Who to contact

• 2-1-1 Ontario — emergency shelter and community supports, 24/7
• Your municipality's shelter or housing help services
• Your community legal clinic — an eviction situation may still have options a professional can identify
• Landlord and Tenant Board — if your housing loss involves an LTB matter

5. Conduct to avoid

• Do not abandon belongings without photographing them and noting where they are.
• Do not sign anything giving up rights because you feel pressured.
• Do not stop documenting, even on a hard day.

6. Legal help

Even at this stage, a legal clinic may identify steps that are still open. Contact one as soon as you have a safe place to make calls.

7. Emergency housing

• 2-1-1 is the fastest single door to shelter across Ontario.
• Municipal housing help centres can assist with longer-term options.