Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
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Usually no. Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can enter without written notice only in an emergency, with your consent at the time, for cleaning the lease requires, or to show the unit to new tenants once the tenancy is ending. Most other entries need 24 hours’ written notice with a reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
This guide is for Ontario tenants who want to know when a landlord can walk in, and for landlords who want to enter without starting a dispute. You will get the exact rules from the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA), how the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) reads them, and what to do when entry goes wrong. It is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice.
Can my landlord enter without notice in Ontario?
Only in a few specific cases. Section 25 of the RTA says a landlord may enter a rental unit only as allowed by section 26 (no written notice) or section 27 (24 hours’ written notice). Anything else is not allowed.
Under section 26, a landlord can enter without written notice only:
- In an emergency.
- With your consent at the time of entry. Consent given in the moment, at the door, counts. A general “come in whenever” from months ago is risky to rely on.
- To clean, if the lease says the landlord cleans at regular intervals. Entry must be at the times in the lease, or between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. if no times are set.
- To show the unit to new tenants, but only after the tenancy is ending (by agreement or a notice from either side), between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and after the landlord tells you or makes a reasonable effort to tell you first.
The LTB adds one point people often miss. Even if you asked for a repair, the landlord cannot just show up and walk in to do it. They need your consent at that moment, or a proper 24-hour written notice.
What counts as an emergency for landlord entry?
The RTA does not define “emergency”, and the LTB’s guideline on entry does not either. In my experience, landlords and tenants usually agree on the obvious cases: active water leaking into another unit, a fire, a gas smell or a smoke alarm going off with no answer at the door. A landlord who calls a routine inspection or a non-urgent repair an “emergency” to skip the notice is taking a real risk if the tenant files a complaint.
If a landlord does enter in a true emergency, the fair practice is to tell the tenant right away what happened, who came in and what was done.
What does a valid 24-hour notice of entry have to say?
Section 27 requires written notice given at least 24 hours before entry. Under section 27(3), the notice must state:
- the reason for entry,
- the day of entry, and
- a time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
A text saying “coming by tomorrow” is not enough on its own. The LTB’s Interpretation Guideline 19 says the notice should give as many details as possible. If the exact time is unknown, a reasonable window is allowed, but how wide depends on the facts. When the landlord controls the work, the window should be fairly tight. When a third party, like a cable company, sets the window, the landlord can use the same one.
The LTB points to a Divisional Court case, Wrona v. Toronto Community Housing Corporation, where a nine-hour window for a smoke detector inspection did not meet the rule. A notice that covers the whole day is likely to be challenged.
Notice can be given by methods in section 191 of the RTA, such as handing it to you or an adult in the unit, leaving it in your mailbox, or mailing it, or by other methods the LTB Rules allow.
What reasons can a landlord give for entering with notice?
A 24-hour written notice only works for the reasons listed in section 27. Here they are, along with the no-notice cases, in one place.
| Reason for entry | Written notice needed? | Allowed hours | RTA section |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emergency | No | Any time | 26(1)(a) |
| Tenant consents at the time | No | Any time | 26(1)(b) |
| Regular cleaning the lease requires | No | Lease times, or 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 26(2) |
| Showing to prospective tenants after notice to end | No, but must try to inform first | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 26(3) |
| Repairs, replacement or other work | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(1) para 1 |
| Viewing by a potential mortgage lender or insurer | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(1) para 2 |
| Inspection by an engineer, architect or other qualified person required under the Condominium Act, 1998 | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(1) para 3 |
| Reasonable inspection of the unit’s condition and standards | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(1) para 4 |
| Other reasonable reason written in the lease | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(1) para 5 |
| Showing to a potential buyer (landlord or authorized agent) | Yes, 24 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | 27(2) |
Source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 25 to 27 (Ontario e-Laws, current to September 2026); LTB Interpretation Guideline 19.
The LTB also treats entry to check a tenant-installed window or portable air conditioner as a valid reason, under section 36.1 of the RTA.
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Can my landlord show my unit to buyers or new tenants?
Yes, within the rules. For buyers, section 27(2) lets the landlord, or a registered real estate broker or salesperson with the landlord’s written authorization, enter with 24 hours’ written notice. The notice still needs a reason, a date and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
For new tenants, no written notice is needed once the tenancy is ending, but the landlord must stay within 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and try to tell you first. The LTB says landlords should make reasonable efforts to give advance notice so you can prepare.
Selling a tenanted place takes cooperation from both sides. My guide on tenant rights when a rental unit is listed for sale covers showings in more detail, and my earlier post on the 24-hour entry rule and showings has practical scheduling tips.
Can a landlord come onto the property without notice?
The entry rules in sections 25 to 27 apply to the rental unit, meaning the space you rent. Shared areas the landlord keeps control of, such as building hallways, a shared laundry room or a common lobby, are generally not part of your unit, so the 24-hour rule does not usually apply there.
For a whole house, the answer depends on what your lease rents to you. If the lease gives you the house and yard, treat the yard as part of what you rent and expect the landlord to arrange visits. If the landlord lives upstairs and the driveway or backyard is shared, the landlord has more room to be there.
Either way, sections 22 and 23 still apply. A landlord must not substantially interfere with your reasonable enjoyment of the unit or the building, and must not harass, obstruct, coerce, threaten or interfere with you. Repeated unannounced drop-ins on the lawn or at the door can cross that line even where the unit rules do not.
Can I refuse entry or change the locks?
You can refuse entry if the landlord has not met the RTA’s entry rules, according to LTB Guideline 19. For example, no written notice, no time stated, or a time outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You cannot refuse a valid entry just because the time is inconvenient. The LTB says tenants must not interfere with a proper entry, must give access to the rooms where work is planned, and must safely restrain pets. You may stay in the unit during the visit, but the landlord can enter if you are not home.
Do not change the locks to keep the landlord out. Section 35 says a tenant may not change the locking system without the landlord’s consent, and the landlord can apply to the LTB over it.
Entering a rental unit when the RTA does not allow it is a provincial offence under section 234. Fines on conviction go up to $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a corporation under section 238. Landlords who “just pop in” to check on things are taking a bigger risk than they think.
What can I do if my landlord keeps entering without notice?
Start with a calm, written message. Many problems stop once a landlord sees the rule in writing. Keep a log of each entry: the date, time, who came in and whether there was notice.
If it continues, you can file a T2 Application about Tenant Rights with the LTB. Section 29 lets a tenant ask for an order that the landlord illegally entered the unit, and the application must be filed within one year of the conduct. If the LTB agrees, section 31 lets it order a rent abatement, payment of reasonable out-of-pocket costs, an order to stop, and an administrative fine.
The LTB’s guideline also warns landlords that unnecessary or frequent entries can be found to be harassment or substantial interference with reasonable enjoyment, even when each notice was technically fine. My guide to the T2 application walks through filing and evidence.
The province’s Rental Housing Enforcement Unit handles offences under the RTA and can contact the landlord or investigate. If you have a dispute, contact the LTB, a community legal clinic or a licensed paralegal for advice on your facts.
How should landlords handle entry to avoid disputes?
Most entry fights I see between owners and tenants are avoidable. My checklist for landlords:
- Use a written notice every time, with the reason, date and a specific time or tight window between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Give more than 24 hours when you can. It costs nothing and builds goodwill.
- Bundle work so you enter fewer times.
- Attend with contractors. The LTB says the landlord or superintendent should be there when a hired person does work.
- Keep copies of every notice and how you delivered it.
- Fix repairs promptly. A landlord’s duty to keep the unit in good repair under section 20 is a big reason entry is allowed at all. See my post on what a landlord must fix in Ontario.
Entry rules protect both sides. Tenants get privacy in their home. Landlords get a clear path to inspect, repair and sell. When an owner calls me before listing a tenanted condo, the first thing I do is agree a showing schedule with the tenant in writing. Showings go better, the tenant feels respected, and buyers see a cleaner unit.
What to do next
- Read your lease for any cleaning schedule or “other reasonable reason” for entry.
- Tenants: keep a dated log of every entry and save all notices and messages.
- Landlords: switch to a standard written entry notice with a specific time and reason.
- If entries continue without notice, contact the LTB, a community legal clinic or a licensed paralegal about a T2 application within one year.
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
Can a landlord come on the property without notice in Ontario?
It depends on what part of the property. Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act requires 24 hours’ written notice for most entries into the rental unit itself. Shared areas the landlord controls, such as hallways or a shared laundry room, are generally not part of the unit. For a whole-house rental, check what the lease includes. A landlord still must not harass you or substantially interfere with your reasonable enjoyment.
Can my landlord show up unannounced?
Not to come inside, in most cases. Under sections 25 to 27 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can enter without written notice only in an emergency, with your consent at the time, for lease-required cleaning, or to show the unit to new tenants after the tenancy is ending. Repeated unannounced visits can also be harassment that the LTB can address.
How much notice does a landlord need to give to enter in Ontario?
At least 24 hours’ written notice, under section 27 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. The notice must give the reason, the day and a time of entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The reason must be one allowed by the Act, such as repairs, a reasonable inspection, or a viewing by a buyer, lender or insurer.
Can a landlord enter for repairs I asked for without notice?
No, not without your consent at the time. The Landlord and Tenant Board’s Guideline 19 says a landlord may not enter without notice to do repairs, even ones the tenant requested, unless the tenant agrees when the landlord arrives. Otherwise the landlord must give 24 hours’ written notice stating the reason, date and time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Can I say no if my landlord gives 24 hours’ notice?
Not if the notice is valid. LTB Guideline 19 says a tenant cannot refuse entry just because the time is inconvenient, and must not interfere with a proper entry. You can refuse if the landlord did not follow the Residential Tenancies Act rules, for example no written notice, no stated time, or a time outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Is a 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. entry window allowed in Ontario?
Probably not, if the landlord controls the work. LTB Guideline 19 says a window must be reasonable for the facts, and cites the Divisional Court’s Wrona v. Toronto Community Housing decision, where a nine-hour window for a smoke detector inspection did not comply. A third party’s set window, such as a cable company’s, can be acceptable.
What is the penalty for a landlord entering illegally in Ontario?
Entering a unit when the Residential Tenancies Act does not allow it is an offence under section 234, with fines on conviction of up to $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a corporation under section 238. Separately, a tenant can file a T2 application at the LTB within one year for a rent abatement, costs and an order to stop.
Can I change my locks to keep my landlord out?
No. Section 35 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act says a tenant may not change the locking system on the unit’s door without the landlord’s consent, and the landlord can apply to the LTB about it. If a landlord is entering illegally, document it and contact the LTB, a community legal clinic or a licensed paralegal instead.
Sources
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17 (Ontario e-Laws)
- LTB Interpretation Guideline 19: The Landlord’s Right of Entry into a Rental Unit
- LTB Interpretation Guideline 6: Tenant Rights
- LTB Brochure: Information for New Tenants
- LTB Brochure: How a Landlord Can End a Tenancy
- Renting in Ontario: Your rights (ontario.ca)
Related reading
- 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?
- Can My Landlord Keep My Deposit or Charge for Cleaning 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.