Your Rights When Landlords Harass or Illegally Lock You Out in Canada

As a newcomer to Canada, finding safe and stable housing is one of your most important priorities. Unfortunately, some landlords take advantage of tenants — especially newcomers who may not know their rights — through harassment, intimidation, or illegal lockouts. The good news is that Canadian law provides strong protections for tenants, and there are clear remedies available if your landlord crosses the line. This guide will help you understand your rights and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

Whether you are renting in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, or any other province, the fundamental principle is the same: your landlord cannot force you out of your home without following the proper legal process. Self-help evictions — where a landlord changes the locks, removes your belongings, or shuts off utilities — are illegal across Canada.

What Counts as Landlord Harassment?

Landlord harassment takes many forms. In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) specifically prohibits landlords from harassing, threatening, coercing, obstructing, or interfering with a tenant. Common forms of harassment include:

• Entering your unit without proper notice — In most provinces, landlords must give 24 hours' written notice before entering, and can only enter for specific reasons (repairs, showing to prospective tenants, emergencies)
• Changing the locks without your consent or without providing you a new key
• Shutting off utilities (heat, water, electricity) to force you to leave
• Removing your belongings from the unit
• Repeated unwanted contact — excessive calls, texts, visits, or threatening messages
• Deliberately failing to maintain the property to make it uninhabitable
• Discriminatory behaviour based on race, ethnicity, religion, family status, or immigration status
• Threatening to call immigration authorities or report you to government agencies
• Demanding additional payments beyond what is in your lease

Illegal Lockouts: What the Law Says

An illegal lockout occurs when a landlord prevents a tenant from accessing their rental unit without obtaining a lawful eviction order. This is a serious offence in every Canadian province and territory.

Ontario

Under section 26 of the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord cannot alter the locking system on any door giving entry to the rental unit without providing replacement keys to the tenant. Under section 39, a landlord cannot recover possession of a rental unit unless the tenant has vacated or abandoned it, or an order of the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has been issued. Penalties for illegal lockouts can include fines of up to $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a corporation. You can file an urgent application with the LTB by calling 1-888-332-3234 or visiting tribunalsontario.ca/ltb.

British Columbia

Under the Residential Tenancy Act, a landlord cannot lock out a tenant or seize a tenant's property. Tenants who are illegally locked out can apply to the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) for an order of possession. Contact the RTB at 1-800-665-8779 or visit the BC government residential tenancy page.

See also: How to Get Your SIN Number in Canada

Alberta

Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord cannot terminate a tenancy or evict a tenant except in accordance with the Act. Illegal lockouts can be addressed through the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) at 1-866-775-9498, or through the Provincial Court of Alberta.

What to Do If You Are Locked Out

1. Call the police — An illegal lockout is an offence. Call the non-emergency police line (or 911 if you feel threatened). Police may help you regain entry to your unit. While police sometimes treat this as a civil matter, remind them that an illegal lockout is a provincial offence.
2. Document everything — Take photos and videos of changed locks, removed belongings, notices posted, and any damage. Save all text messages, emails, and voicemails from your landlord.
3. File an emergency/urgent application with your provincial tenancy tribunal. In Ontario, the LTB can schedule urgent hearings for illegal lockouts. In BC, the RTB offers expedited proceedings.
4. Contact legal aid — If you cannot afford a lawyer, contact your provincial legal aid office. In Ontario, call Legal Aid Ontario at 1-800-668-8258. In BC, call the Access Pro Bono line at 1-877-762-6664.
5. Do not retaliate — Do not change the locks yourself, withhold rent, or damage the property. These actions could hurt your case.

Filing a Complaint with the Landlord and Tenant Board (Ontario)

If you are in Ontario, here is how to file a complaint with the LTB:

1. Complete the T2 Application — This is the form for tenants who believe the landlord has substantially interfered with their reasonable enjoyment, harassed them, changed the locks, or illegally entered the unit. You can file online through the LTB forms page.
2. Pay the filing fee — The fee is $53.00 as of 2025-2026. Fee waivers are available for tenants who cannot afford the fee.
3. Serve the landlord — Give the landlord a copy of your application and any supporting documents.
4. Attend the hearing — The LTB will schedule a hearing (which may be conducted by video or telephone). Present your evidence clearly. You can request an interpreter if needed.
5. Receive the order — The LTB can order the landlord to let you back in, pay you compensation for expenses (hotel, meals, lost belongings), stop the harassing behaviour, and pay a fine.

Compensation You May Be Entitled To

If your landlord illegally locked you out or harassed you, the tribunal can order compensation for:

• Hotel or temporary accommodation costs
• Meals and other out-of-pocket expenses
• Value of lost or damaged personal belongings
• Moving and storage costs
• Rent abatement (reduction in rent) for the period of interference
• General damages for stress and inconvenience (amounts vary but can be significant)

Protections Against Retaliation

Canadian law also protects tenants from retaliation. If your landlord tries to evict you, raise your rent, or harass you because you filed a complaint or asserted your rights, that is illegal retaliation. You can file an additional complaint and the tribunal can dismiss the landlord's eviction application if it was motivated by retaliation.

In Ontario, Section 83 of the Residential Tenancies Act requires the LTB to consider all circumstances before granting an eviction, including whether the landlord's application was filed in retaliation for a tenant exercising their legal rights. If you can demonstrate a pattern — for example, the landlord filed an eviction notice shortly after you complained about maintenance issues or filed a T2 application — the LTB may refuse to grant the eviction. Keep a detailed timeline of events to show the connection between your complaint and the landlord's retaliatory actions.

Documenting Harassment Effectively

Strong documentation can make or break your case. Here are practical tips for building your evidence:

• Keep a daily log — Record every incident with dates, times, and descriptions of what happened
• Save all communications — Text messages, emails, voicemails, written notes from the landlord. Take screenshots and store them in multiple locations.
• Photograph and video — Document changed locks, removed belongings, damage, or any physical evidence of harassment
• Identify witnesses — Neighbours, friends, or family members who have observed the harassment. Get their written statements if possible.
• Report to police — Even if police treat it as a civil matter, having a police file number strengthens your case at the tribunal
• Keep receipts — Save all receipts for hotel stays, meals, moving costs, or other expenses caused by the landlord's actions

Special Considerations for Newcomers

• Immigration status does not affect your tenant rights — You have full protection under provincial tenancy laws regardless of your immigration status
• Language barriers — Tribunals provide interpretation services. Request an interpreter when filing your application.
• Threats about immigration — If your landlord threatens to report you to immigration authorities, this is a form of harassment and may also constitute a criminal offence (extortion). Document these threats and include them in your complaint.
• Know your lease — If your lease is not in a language you understand, ask for a translation or have someone you trust explain it before signing

For related information, see our guide on how to file a human rights complaint if you believe your landlord is discriminating against you. Our chat tool can also help answer specific questions about your situation.

Remember: no matter where you come from, you have strong legal protections as a tenant in Canada. Do not let any landlord intimidate you into giving up your rights. Help is available, and the legal system is designed to protect you.