Can My Landlord Enter My Apartment Without Notice in Ontario?

The Short Answer: Almost Never.

Your rental unit is your home. In Ontario, your landlord cannot enter your apartment without proper notice except in a handful of narrow circumstances defined by law. If your landlord is entering without warning, they are likely violating the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA).

The General Rule: 24 Hours Written Notice

Section 27 of the RTA sets the default rule. Before entering your rental unit, the landlord must:

• Give you at least 24 hours' written notice
• Specify the date and time of entry (between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.)
• State the reason for entry
• Entry must be for a reason permitted under the RTA

The notice must be in writing. A phone call, text message, or verbal heads-up at your door does not satisfy the requirement. The landlord should use a proper written notice specifying when and why they need to enter.

Permitted Reasons for Entry (Section 27)

Even with 24 hours' notice, a landlord can only enter for specific reasons:

• To carry out a repair or do work in the unit
• To allow a potential mortgagee or insurer to inspect the property
• To allow a qualified person to inspect the unit for health or safety compliance
• To conduct a routine inspection of the unit (but only if the tenancy agreement permits inspections and reasonable notice is given)
• For any other reasonable reason specified in the tenancy agreement

The landlord cannot use "routine inspection" as a pretext for frequent, intrusive visits. Inspections must be genuinely reasonable in frequency and purpose.

Entry Without Notice: The Exceptions

Section 26 sets out the very limited circumstances where a landlord can enter without 24 hours' notice:

Emergency (Section 26(1))

The landlord may enter without notice if there is an emergency — for example, a burst pipe, a fire, or a gas leak. The emergency must be genuine. "I wanted to check on things" is not an emergency.

Consent (Section 26(2))

The landlord may enter if the tenant consents at the time of entry. This means you agree to let them in right then — not that you agreed months ago in your lease. Consent must be immediate and voluntary.

Showing the Unit (Section 26(3))

If the tenancy is being terminated or the tenant has given notice, the landlord may enter to show the unit to prospective tenants between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. with reasonable efforts to inform the tenant. Specifically:

• The landlord must make reasonable efforts to inform you before each showing
• Entry is only permitted during the period after notice of termination has been given
• This does not give the landlord a blank pass to bring people through at all hours

Cleaning (Section 26(4))

If the tenancy agreement requires the landlord to clean the unit, they may enter at reasonable times to do so, with reasonable notice.

Entry to Show Unit to Purchasers (Section 27(2))

If the landlord wants to sell the property and show the unit to potential purchasers, they must still give 24 hours' written notice. The provision for showings without full notice only applies to prospective tenants near the end of a tenancy, not to purchasers.

What If Your Landlord Enters Illegally?

If your landlord enters your unit without proper notice or without a valid reason:

1. Document the entry — Note the date, time, and circumstances. If possible, keep any texts or messages where the landlord admits to entering.
2. Send a written notice — Inform your landlord in writing that they violated sections 25-27 of the RTA and that you expect proper notice going forward.
3. File a T2 application at the Landlord and Tenant Board — Illegal entry is a form of interference with reasonable enjoyment of your unit. You may also claim it constitutes harassment if it is repeated.
4. Call the police in extreme cases — If your landlord enters against your express wishes and refuses to leave, this may constitute trespassing. The police can be called.

The LTB can order remedies including:

• A rent abatement
• An order prohibiting the landlord from further illegal entries
• Compensation for damages

Changing the Locks

Section 24 of the RTA prohibits both landlords and tenants from changing the locks without the other's consent. However, if your landlord is entering illegally and the LTB is not providing timely relief, some tenants change their locks as a practical measure. If you do this, you must provide the landlord with a key — but this does not give them permission to enter without notice.

Common Lease Clauses About Entry

Some leases include clauses granting the landlord "the right to enter at any time" or "with 12 hours' notice." These clauses are void under section 4 of the RTA because they conflict with sections 25-27. The RTA provisions override any lease term.

Upload your lease to RenterShield to check for illegal entry clauses and other terms that violate your rights under the RTA.