Plain-language answer
First, do not force your way in. However wrong the lockout may be, forced entry can create separate legal problems for you and can escalate a bad situation into a dangerous one. If you or anyone with you is in immediate danger, call 911.
Second, document the scene right away: photograph the changed lock and the door, note the exact date and time, save any notice that was posted, and get the names of anyone who witnessed what happened. Write down anything the landlord said, word for word if you can.
Third, get help the same day. Contact a community legal clinic (find yours through Legal Aid Ontario), and look into filing an urgent tenant application with the Landlord and Tenant Board — lockout situations are commonly treated as urgent. If you need essentials from inside — medication, ID, a child's necessities — say so clearly to everyone you contact; immediate needs can affect how quickly help moves.
Why it matters
The first hours shape everything after: the evidence you capture, the help you reach, and where you sleep tonight. A short, calm checklist beats improvising while upset.
Lockout remedies work best fast. Waiting can complicate questions about the unit, your belongings, and your tenancy.
Facts that affect the answer
Based on the information available, these are the kinds of facts that commonly change how a situation like this is assessed:
- Whether an actual sheriff-enforced eviction occurred, or the landlord acted alone — check for official documents on the door.
- Whether you have somewhere safe to stay tonight, which affects how urgent every other step is.
- Whether essential items — medication, ID, work equipment, children's items — are inside.
- Whether the landlord is reachable and what they say when asked to restore access.
- Whether anyone witnessed the lockout or the lock change.
Evidence to preserve
Preserve these now, in their original form
- Timestamped photos and video of the door, lock, and any posted notices.
- The posted notice itself, or clear photos of it in place before touching it.
- A written record of the discovery: date, time, what you found, what you did.
- All communication with the landlord from that moment forward, in writing where possible.
- Receipts for every cost the lockout causes — hotel, food, replacement essentials.
Common mistakes
- Forcing entry or having a locksmith open the door without legal advice.
- Getting into a confrontation that produces police attention but no access.
- Scattering — leaving without photos, notes, or the posted notice recorded.
- Not keeping receipts for out-of-pocket costs, which may matter later.
- Assuming it is hopeless and simply walking away from the tenancy and your belongings.
Possible official process
The primary route is generally an urgent tenant application to the LTB about the lockout; the Board has processes for urgent matters, and legal clinics can help you file quickly.
Ontario's Rental Housing Enforcement Unit accepts complaints about certain Residential Tenancies Act offences, which can include unlawful lockouts.
If a sheriff-enforced eviction actually occurred, different rules apply — including rules about access to belongings for a limited period — so identifying which situation you are in is the first legal question to resolve.
Professional review recommended
Tools that help with this
Jurisdiction: Ontario · Last reviewed 2026-07-15 · currently under review. Rules, forms, and deadlines can change — always confirm against the official sources above.
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.