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Issue hub
If your landlord's behaviour is making your home feel unsafe or unwelcome, the most powerful thing you can do right now is document it — calmly, in dates and facts. This page explains the general rules and gives you the tools to build that record.
An allegation is not the same as a proven finding
What you experienced and recorded is your account — an allegation until a tribunal or court makes a finding. That's not a reason to doubt yourself; it's the reason documentation matters so much. Describe events in facts (“On July 3, he said…”) rather than conclusions (“he harassed me”). Careful, dated records are what let someone else weigh what happened. RTO Pro cannot determine that harassment occurred — only the Landlord and Tenant Board or a court can make that finding.
The general rules
These are general rules with exceptions. The official sources at the bottom of this page are always the place to confirm details for your situation.
In general, a landlord must give 24 hours written noticebefore entering a rented unit, must have a lawful reason (such as repairs, inspections, or showings in certain circumstances), and must enter at reasonable times. There are exceptions — including emergencies and situations where you consent at the time. If entries don't seem to fit this pattern, keep a dated log of each one.
Tenants generally have a right to reasonable enjoyment of their home — to live there without substantial interference from the landlord. Repeated pressure, intimidation, or interference can raise this issue. Whether specific conduct crosses the line is a question the Landlord and Tenant Board decides case by case, which is why your record of what actually happened matters.
Documentation is for later — safety comes first. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you have been locked out or someone is removing your belongings right now, see emergency help and lockout help.
You can ask that communication happen in writing — it lowers the temperature and creates a record. Stay factual and polite in everything you send; your own messages may be read later by a clinic worker or adjudicator. The message generator below helps you draft a calm request. Never respond with threats, and never withhold rent or change locks in response — those steps can create problems for you.
Common situations
Whatever the situation, the pattern is the same: dates, facts, witnesses, and preserved messages.
Threats about your tenancy, your belongings, or your safety — in person, by phone, or in writing. Record each one with the date, exact words if you can, and who else heard it.
Repeated suggestions, offers, or warnings aimed at getting you to move out — including 'cash for keys' pressure that doesn't stop when you say no. You generally don't have to leave just because you were asked to.
Someone entering your unit without written notice, without a lawful reason, or at unreasonable hours. Log every entry, whether or not notice was given — patterns matter.
Even entries with notice can become a concern if they are frequent and don't seem to have a real purpose. Keep a dated record of each visit and its stated reason.
Blocking, questioning, or restricting your visitors. Tenants can generally have guests. Note who was turned away, when, and what was said.
Mail going missing, being withheld, or being opened. Note dates and what was affected, and keep any packaging or notices that show tampering or redirection.
Treatment that got worse after you asked for repairs, complained, or contacted the LTB. A clear timeline showing what happened before and after your complaint is often the most useful record.
Cameras pointed at your door or windows, tracking of your visitors, or monitoring that feels targeted at you. Photograph the equipment and note when it appeared and what it covers.
Your tools
Everything you log here is saved as dated events on your timeline, on this device only — so your incident log, entry log, and the rest of your case stay in one chronology.
For threats, pressure to leave, intimidation, interference with guests or mail, or anything else that felt like harassment. Each entry is saved as a dated event on your timeline.
For each time the landlord or their staff entered (or tried to enter) your unit. Note whether you got written notice, what reason was given, and the time of day.
Saved on this device only. Entries in this tool are stored in your browser and are not sent to RTO Pro or anyone else. Clearing your browser data will remove them — export or photograph anything important.
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If anyone saw or heard an incident — a neighbour, a friend, a contractor — write down their name and how to reach them while it's fresh. Add it to the “evidence and witnesses” note when you log the event. Witnesses who can speak to what they personally saw are often more useful than people repeating what you told them.
Keep every text, email, voicemail, letter, and note in its original form — don't delete anything, even messages you find upsetting. Screenshot conversations so the date and sender are visible, and record where each item is stored in the evidence vault.
A calm, factual message in writing usually works better than a heated conversation — and it creates a record. This tool builds a draft from what you describe. It states facts, asks for the behaviour to be addressed, and requests a written response. Nothing you type here leaves your browser.
When you need the full picture — for a clinic visit or an application — open the timeline tool to see every event in order and export it as text.
Community legal clinics help Ontario tenants with exactly these situations, often at no cost. Tenants can also apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board about landlord conduct — a legal professional can tell you whether that makes sense in your case, and your organized records make that conversation faster.
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.