Residential Tenancies Act: Briefing Book - Michael Walker

Residential Tenancies Act, 2007
B R I E F I N G B O O K
Programs to Assist Tenants Learn about the New Legislation
Educational initiatives on the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
As part of the Outreach Program supported by the Tenant Defence Fund, the Federation
of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) will conduct a one-year project offering
education initiatives about tenant rights and obligations under the new RTA throughout
2007. These initiatives will be targeted at, but not limited to, private sector tenants with
low income and living in the City’s priority neighbourhoods.
Update on the Tenant Survival Manual
The Tenant Survival Manual is a manual that provides information to tenants about the
most current legislation governing rent regulations and tenancy issues. The manual gives
tenants a basic understanding of the law in simple and easy to understand language. It
covers a broad range of issues, including the rights and responsibilities of tenants and
landlords, and offers ideas to tenants as to how to address the issues and where or whom
to get help, including community resources and relevant City divisions such as Shelter,
Support and Housing Administration, Planning and Municipal Licensing and Standards.
The manual was initially developed and produced through City funding when the
previous legislation (the Tenant Protection Act) was enacted in 1998, and was updated
annually. It has not been updated since 2004 due to uncertainty about timing of the new
legislation. City funding has now been provided to update the manual to reflect the
changes as a result of the new legislation. In 2006, the FMTA developed a small booklet
entitled “Guide to Tenants’ Rights” and translated it into 12 different languages. The
Guide has been updated to reflect the RTA, but has not yet been translated. The Guide
can be found at: www.torontotenants.org/guide.htm
Tenant Hotline (416) 921-9494
The Tenant Hotline is a telephone information and counselling service that responds to
tenant inquires about the rent regulation and tenancy legislation, rights and
responsibilities of tenants and landlords, and all other tenant and landlord matters related
to the legislation. The hotline also provides referrals to other community information and
advisory services in the City, including community legal clinics, housing help centres,
community mediation services, and city services. It is operated by the FMTA through a
purchase of service agreement with the City. More information about the tenant hotline
is available at: www.torontotenants.org/hotline.htm.
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