Section 35(1) states that: A tenant shall not alter the locking system on a door giving entry to a rental unit or residential complex or cause the locking system to be altered during the tenant’s occupancy of the rental unit without the consent of the landlord.  2006, c. 17, s. 35 (1).

Section 35(2) states that: If a tenant alters a locking system, contrary to subsection (1), the landlord may apply to the Board for an order determining that the tenant has altered the locking system on a door giving entry to the rental unit or the residential complex or caused the locking system to be altered during the tenant’s occupancy of the rental unit without the consent of the landlord.  2006, c. 17, s. 35 (2).

Section 35(3) states that:  If the Board in an application under subsection (2) determines that a tenant has altered the locking system or caused it to be altered, the Board may order that the tenant provide the landlord with keys or pay the landlord the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses necessary to change the locking system.  2006, c. 17, s. 35 (3).

Unless you are sure the tenant has vacated, do not change the locks. You must wait for the Sheriff to attend at the property, at which point a locksmith should be there to change the locks in the presence of the Sheriff.

If the tenant changes the locks he is required to provide a copy of the key to the landlord. The tenant does not have the right to refuse entry as long as there is a valid reason to enter the unit such as a maintenance inspection.

Although a landlord and tenant, by mutual agreement, can change or add locks to any door giving access to the property or unit, there may be certain restrictions to the type of locking system that may be used. These safety restrictions exist to make sure that there are no extra steps that are involved when an occupant – using normal force – is entering or exiting the unit in an emergency situation. These restrictions may fall under either the Ontario Fire Code, or the Ontario Building Code. The type of door that is being locked may also factor in to whether or not the additional lock would be considered safe.

For clarification on this, we recommend contacting your local Fire Services Department using this interactive service directory: http://www.secondsuites.info/service-directory/

It is an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act for a tenant to change the locks and bar the landlord’s access to the rental unit. A landlord may write a letter to the tenant requesting that the changed lock be removed. If the tenant does not comply, a landlord may contact the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit at the Ministry of Housing at 416-585-7214. They can notify the tenant that he or she is committing an offence under the Act and can be fined. Read more about the process at this link: https://www.ontario.ca/page/solve-disagreement-your-landlord-or-tenant

If that does not get the tenant’s attention, you can serve an N5 Notice to Terminate Tenancy. When you issue the N5, you have to be as detailed as possible when describing the issues and include dates and times for when the incidents are occurring. The N5 is a 20-day notice but the tenants have the first 7 days to correct the problems (by giving you keys or changing the lock back, in this case). If the problems are not corrected in 7 days, you can file an L2 application at the Landlord and Tenant Board to go to a hearing and ask for termination of the tenancy.

It is an offence under the Residential Tenancies Act for a tenant to change the locks and bar the landlord’s access to the rental unit. A landlord may write a letter to the tenant requesting that the changed lock be removed. If the tenant does not comply, a landlord may contact the Rental Housing Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Housing at 416-585-7214 or toll-free 1-888-772-9277. They can notify the tenant that he/she is committing an offence under the Act and can be fined.