Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
Yes, for liability insurance. Under section 11 of Ontario’s standard lease, a landlord and tenant can agree that the tenant must carry liability insurance and show proof when asked. Contents insurance stays the tenant’s choice. A landlord cannot add the term mid-lease without written agreement, charge a fee for having no policy, or evict without the Landlord and Tenant Board.
This guide is for Ontario tenants who have been told to buy tenant insurance, and for landlords who want the requirement to hold up. It covers what the standard lease allows, what a landlord cannot do, what happens if a policy lapses, and who pays for damage when there is no insurance.
Can a landlord require tenant insurance in Ontario?
Yes, for liability insurance, if it is written into the lease you sign. Ontario’s standard lease has a section on tenant insurance (section 11). The province’s guide to the standard lease says the landlord and tenant can agree that the tenant must have liability insurance, and that the tenant must show proof if the landlord asks.
Contents insurance is different. The same guide says it is up to the tenant whether to insure their own belongings. So a landlord can make liability cover a lease term, but the standard lease treats contents cover as your choice.
No Ontario law makes tenant insurance mandatory on its own. The requirement comes from the lease. The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) notes that personal liability insurance is typically a condition in a lease, and that tenants can be held liable for damage they cause to the building or harm to others.
If you want to know what a policy actually covers and what it costs, my guide to tenant insurance in Ontario goes through it. This post is about the rules around requiring it.
This is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), a community legal clinic, a paralegal or a lawyer.
What can and cannot a landlord do about tenant insurance?
Here is the short version, with the rule behind each answer.
| Landlord action | Allowed? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Make liability insurance a term of a new lease | Yes | Standard lease, section 11 |
| Ask for proof of that coverage | Yes | Tenant must provide it if asked (standard lease guide) |
| Require contents insurance | No, under the standard lease | Guide says contents cover is the tenant’s choice |
| Add an insurance term mid-lease without your agreement | No | Changes must be agreed in writing (standard lease, section 16) |
| Charge a fee or penalty for having no policy | No | RTA s. 134 bans fees, penalties and similar charges |
| Take a damage deposit in case you are uninsured | No | Only a rent deposit is allowed (RTA ss. 105, 106) |
| Evict you on the spot for a lapsed policy | No | A tenancy ends only under the RTA, through the LTB (s. 37) |
| Hold you responsible for damage you or your guests cause | Yes | Tenant must repair undue damage caused wilfully or negligently (s. 34) |
Source: Ontario, Guide to Ontario’s standard lease; Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 34, 37, 105, 106, 134 (current consolidation as of November 2026).
Can a landlord add a tenant insurance clause after I move in?
Not without your agreement. The standard lease guide says any change to the agreement must be agreed to in writing. A landlord cannot add a new obligation by sending a letter.
The end of a fixed term does not give the landlord a chance to add it either. Under the RTA, a lease that ends without being renewed or terminated simply continues month to month with the same terms (s. 38). You do not have to sign a new lease to stay. My post on whether a landlord can make you sign a new lease explains this in more detail.
That said, if your landlord asks you to add insurance, it is often worth agreeing. A tenant policy protects you more than it protects the landlord. Just make sure any change is in writing and signed by both of you.
Can a landlord refuse to rent to me if I won’t get insurance?
Before you sign, yes, in practice. A landlord can offer a lease that includes a liability insurance term. If you will not accept that term, the landlord does not have to sign with you.
What a landlord cannot do is treat applicants differently on a ground protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code. The standard lease guide reminds both sides that everyone has the right to equal treatment in housing. Applying the same insurance term to every tenant is the fair way to do it. My guide to what a landlord can ask on a rental application covers the wider screening rules.
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What counts as proof of tenant insurance?
The standard lease does not define it, so the practical answer is a document from your insurer that shows the key facts. In my experience, landlords and property managers ask for a one-page summary or certificate that shows:
- The names of every insured tenant.
- The rental unit’s full address.
- The personal liability limit.
- The start and end dates of the policy.
If the lease names a minimum liability amount, check that your policy meets it. If you have roommates, ask your insurer whether one policy covers everyone or whether each person needs their own. Send proof again every time the policy renews, and keep a copy of what you sent.
Can a landlord evict me for not having tenant insurance in Ontario?
Not directly. The RTA lists the reasons a landlord can use to end a tenancy, and “no tenant insurance” is not one of them. A tenancy can only end in the ways the Act allows (s. 37), and a landlord who wants to evict must apply to the LTB.
A landlord might try to rely on a general ground. Section 64 lets a landlord give notice when a tenant’s conduct substantially interferes with a lawful right, privilege or interest of the landlord. That uses Form N5. The LTB’s brochure says a first N5 gives at least 20 days, and the tenant can void it by stopping the problem within 7 days. For a lapsed policy, the obvious fix is to buy a new one and send proof within that window. My guide to what to do if you get an N5 explains the 7-day period.
Whether an N5 over insurance would succeed at a hearing depends on the facts, and the LTB decides each case. Even with an eviction order, only the Court Enforcement Office (the sheriff) can enforce it. A landlord cannot change the locks or remove you on their own.
Who pays for damage if the tenant has no insurance?
The tenant does, if they or their guests caused it. The RTA says a tenant is responsible for repairing undue damage to the unit or building caused by the wilful or negligent conduct of the tenant, another occupant or a person the tenant let in (s. 34). Normal wear and tear is not the tenant’s responsibility.
Without liability insurance, that bill can land on the tenant personally. A landlord can apply to the LTB to recover repair costs (s. 89). The LTB can order payment up to the greater of $10,000 and the Small Claims Court limit (s. 207). As of November 2026, the filing fee for a landlord’s money claim against a former tenant (Form L10) is $201, or $186 through the Tribunals Ontario Portal.
The landlord’s own policy does not protect the tenant here. IBC explains that tenant liability cover is what pays if someone successfully sues you, plus your legal defence costs. For landlords, my guide to recovering money when a tenant damages a unit explains the landlord side.
A tenant policy may not respond if you use the unit in a way your insurer does not know about. IBC warns that renting out a property for a long or short term without telling your insurer first can void coverage. If you plan to sublet, host short-term guests or run a business from the unit, tell your insurer in writing before you start, and check your lease and the RTA rules on subletting too.
Do condo tenants need their own insurance in Ontario?
It is strongly advisable, and your lease may require it. IBC says a condo corporation’s insurance does not cover an owner’s personal contents, unit improvements or liability. It does not cover a tenant’s belongings or liability either. The owner’s unit policy protects the owner, not you.
The standard lease guide also says that when the unit is in a condominium, the tenant agrees to follow the condo declaration, by-laws and rules the landlord provides. Read them. If a leak from your unit damages the unit below, the owner may face a deductible chargeback from the corporation, and the owner may then look to you. My guide to condo insurance and the deductible explains how those chargebacks work.
When I lease a condo or house for a landlord client, I put the liability insurance requirement in the standard lease’s insurance section, add a minimum amount in the additional terms, and ask for proof before keys are handed over. That is fair, it is clear, and nobody is surprised later. For tenants, I would buy the policy even if the lease does not demand it. A single kitchen fire or overflowing bathtub can cost far more than years of premiums.
What to do next
- Read section 11 of your standard lease and any additional terms to see exactly what insurance you agreed to.
- Get a policy that meets any minimum liability amount and covers your exact unit address.
- Send your landlord proof of coverage and set a reminder to resend it at every renewal.
- Tell your insurer in writing before you sublet, host guests for pay or run a business from home.
- If you get an N5 about insurance, fix it within 7 days and call the LTB or a legal clinic for advice.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Is tenant insurance mandatory in Ontario?
Not by law. No Ontario statute requires every tenant to carry insurance. It becomes mandatory only if your lease says so. Under section 11 of Ontario’s standard lease, a landlord and tenant can agree that the tenant must have liability insurance, and the tenant must show proof when asked. Contents insurance remains the tenant’s own choice under the standard lease, as of November 2026.
Can I be evicted for letting my renters insurance lapse in Ontario?
Not automatically. The Residential Tenancies Act does not list missing insurance as a reason to end a tenancy, and any eviction must go through the Landlord and Tenant Board. A landlord might serve an N5 for substantial interference with a lawful right, but a tenant can void a first N5 by fixing the problem within 7 days, such as buying a policy and sending proof.
Can my landlord require contents insurance in Ontario?
Not under the standard lease. Ontario’s guide to the standard lease says a landlord and tenant can agree that the tenant must carry liability insurance, but contents insurance is up to the tenant. In practice, most tenant policies bundle contents and liability together, so a tenant who buys liability cover to meet the lease usually gets contents protection as part of the same policy.
Can a landlord add a tenant insurance requirement after I signed the lease?
Not without your written agreement. Ontario’s standard lease says changes to the agreement must be agreed to in writing by both sides. When a fixed-term lease ends in Ontario, it continues month to month on the same terms, so a landlord cannot use the renewal to add a new insurance term. You can choose to agree, and buying cover usually protects you.
What proof of tenant insurance can a landlord ask for in Ontario?
A landlord can ask for proof of the liability coverage the lease requires, and the tenant must provide it. The standard lease does not define the document. In practice, a certificate or summary page from your insurer showing the tenants’ names, the unit address, the liability limit and the policy dates is what most Ontario landlords and property managers accept.
Can a landlord charge a fee if I don’t have tenant insurance?
No. Section 134 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act bans landlords from charging fees, penalties, premiums or similar amounts beyond lawful rent, except the few charges the regulation allows. A charge for having no insurance is not on that list. A tenant who paid one can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year to get it back using Form T1.
Does my landlord’s insurance cover my belongings in Ontario?
No. A landlord’s policy covers the landlord’s building and the landlord’s own liability, not a tenant’s furniture, clothes or electronics. In a condo, the Insurance Bureau of Canada says the corporation’s policy does not cover personal contents either. Ontario tenants who want their belongings covered after a fire, theft or water leak need their own tenant policy.
Who pays for water damage caused by a tenant without insurance?
The tenant, if they or their guests caused it through wilful or negligent conduct. Section 34 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act makes tenants responsible for undue damage. The landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for repair costs, up to the greater of $10,000 and the Small Claims Court limit. Without liability insurance, the tenant pays personally.
Do condo tenants in Toronto need their own insurance?
Yes, in practice. The condo corporation’s policy does not cover a tenant’s belongings or liability, and the owner’s unit policy protects the owner, not the tenant. A Toronto or GTA condo landlord can also make tenant liability insurance a lease term under section 11 of the standard lease. A tenant who causes a leak into a neighbour’s unit could otherwise face the repair bill personally.
Sources
- Ontario: Guide to Ontario’s standard lease
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17 (e-Laws, current consolidation)
- Landlord and Tenant Board: How a Landlord Can End a Tenancy (updated 21 September 2026)
- Tribunals Ontario: LTB forms, filing and fees
- Insurance Bureau of Canada: Types of home insurance coverage
- O. Reg. 516/06 (General) under the Residential Tenancies Act, s. 17
Related reading
- Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
- Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
- Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
- Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.