No Response from Landlord - Maintenance Issues

[ForumUser]

Hi there.

I have had a hard time dealing with my landlord over the past month.

I have not had working lights in a unit I am renting from him. I have asked him since September 19th to fix the lights. I have been in the dark only using a small lamp I had to purchase in order to see.

Do I legally have to pay him for the past month of rent since basic living requirements have not been met?

Please help with your guidance.

Cheers

[SettlementOrgMod]

Hello,

Thank you for sharing your situation and question with us.

We can appreciate that you would be interested in what your rights are in this situation.

You can find some information on the Social Justice Tribunals Ontario website in the Landlord and Tenant Board Frequently Asked Questions section.

Here is an excerpt,

Can I withhold rent because my landlord isn’t properly maintaining my building or unit?

No. If you withhold rent, the landlord can give you a notice of termination for non-payment of rent and then file an application to evict you.


What should I do if repairs are needed to my building or unit?

Talk to your landlord first about the problems. Put the problems in writing and give the list to the landlord or the person who takes care of maintenance (for example, to the superintendent or property manager).

If the landlord refuses to do the repairs or you think that the landlord is taking too long to deal with the problems, see the brochure: Maintenance and Repairs.

You may want to contact the nearest Community Legal Clinic for some information and assistance regarding how to proceed.

I hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you have further questions and if there is any follow up to your question/situation.

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Anna
Settlement.Org Content and Information/Referral Specialist, CIRS
Settlement.Org