How to File an Ontario T2 Tenant Rights Application for Harassment or Illegal Entry

What problems can you bring to the LTB with Form T2?

Form T2 is Ontario's Application about Tenant Rights. A tenant or former tenant can use it when the landlord, superintendent or landlord's agent allegedly violated specific rights protected by the Residential Tenancies Act.

The main T2 grounds include:

• entering the rental unit illegally;
• changing the locking system without giving the tenant replacement keys;
• substantially interfering with the reasonable enjoyment of the rental unit or residential complex by the tenant or a household member;
• harassing, obstructing, coercing, threatening or interfering with the tenant;
• withholding or interfering with vital services, care services or meals;
• failing to give an evicted tenant the required 72-hour opportunity to retrieve property after a Sheriff's eviction; and
• certain failures involving written tenancy agreements in care homes.

A T2 is therefore broader than a complaint about harassment alone, but it is not the correct form for every landlord-tenant dispute.

When is a landlord's entry into your rental unit illegal?

Ontario law allows a landlord to enter without written notice in specific circumstances, including an emergency or when the tenant consents at the time of entry. Other statutory exceptions also exist.

For many ordinary entries, the landlord must provide at least 24 hours' written notice. The notice must state the reason for entry, the date and a time of entry that falls between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.. Permitted purposes include repairs, reasonable inspections and certain other purposes authorized by the Residential Tenancies Act.

If you allege illegal entry on Form T2, identify each occurrence as precisely as possible. Record the date and time, who entered, why they said they entered, what notice you received and why you say the entry did not comply with the law.

What counts as harassment or interference for a T2?

The Residential Tenancies Act states that a landlord must not harass, obstruct, coerce, threaten or interfere with a tenant. It also prohibits substantial interference with a tenant's reasonable enjoyment of the rental unit or residential complex.

For a T2 claim, describe the conduct rather than simply labelling it harassment. Include what was said or done, the person responsible, when each event happened, whether it was repeated and how it affected your use or enjoyment of the home.

Evidence can depend on the case but may include written communications, notices, photographs, recordings that were lawfully obtained, incident logs and testimony from people who witnessed relevant events.

Can you file a T2 when a landlord cuts off a vital service?

Yes. Form T2 specifically covers a landlord, superintendent or agent withholding or interfering with vital services that the landlord is obligated to supply.

The T2 instructions identify vital services as:

• heat from September 1 to June 15;
• fuel;
• electricity;
• gas;
• hot water; and
• cold water.

Care services and meals in a care home can also fall within this T2 ground. Not every amenity or service is legally a vital service. Ontario's rental-housing enforcement guidance, for example, states that air conditioning, parking and storage are not vital services for this purpose.

For a service claim, state which service was affected, when the problem began, how the landlord allegedly withheld or interfered with it and when normal service resumed, if it has resumed.

How long do you have to file a T2?

For most T2 claims, the Residential Tenancies Act imposes a one-year limitation period.

For a single event such as an alleged illegal entry, the one-year period generally runs from the date of that event. The LTB's Tenant Rights Interpretation Guideline explains that ongoing or recurring conduct can require a different analysis; for example, where a vital-service breach continues over a period of time, the limitation period may run from when the service is restored.

Do not delay simply because the conduct is continuing. A T2 generally cannot be used to recover for an issue that was resolved more than one year before the application was filed.

The LTB guideline identifies an exception for the T2 ground concerning a landlord's failure to make property available during the 72 hours after a Sheriff's eviction: the Residential Tenancies Act does not impose the same section 29 limitation period on that specific claim.

How much does a T2 application cost in 2026?

The current Landlord and Tenant Board fee for T2, T1, T5 and T6 tenant applications is $48 through the Tribunals Ontario Portal or $53 through other accepted filing methods.

LTB filing fees are non-refundable. If you cannot afford the application fee and meet the LTB's financial eligibility requirements, you can submit a Fee Waiver Request.

For a multi-tenant application involving more than one rental unit in the same building, different filing rules and fees apply. The current fee is $53 for the first rental unit plus $5 for each additional unit, up to a maximum of $450, and multi-tenant applications must be submitted by mail or courier.

How to file your T2 through the Tribunals Ontario Portal

The Tribunals Ontario Portal is the normal online route for a T2 application. It allows you to complete and submit the application and pay the filing fee securely.

After an application has been filed, the portal can also be used for functions such as checking case status, uploading evidence and submissions, exchanging documents and messages with other parties and using the dispute-resolution tool.

If you are filing an individual T2 online, use the portal rather than emailing an application unless the LTB specifically directs otherwise.

Can you file Form T2 without using the online portal?

Yes. The LTB instructions allow a T2 to be filed by mail or courier to the appropriate LTB office.

For mail or courier filing, accepted payment options include certified cheque, money order, Visa or MasterCard following the LTB's payment instructions. Certified cheques and money orders must be payable to the Minister of Finance. Credit-card payment by mail requires the LTB Credit Card Payment Form.

The LTB generally no longer accepts applications by fax except in limited circumstances. A fee-bearing application cannot simply be faxed with credit-card information.

What should you write in the reasons section?

Choose only the T2 grounds that actually apply and provide a detailed factual explanation for each ground.

Useful information includes:

• the date and time of each incident, or approximate dates if exact dates are unknown;
• the name and role of the person involved;
• what that person did or failed to do;
• what notice or communication occurred before the incident;
• how the conduct affected you or a member of your household;
• how long an ongoing problem lasted; and
• the loss or expense caused by the conduct when you are asking for compensation.

A chronological description is usually easier to follow than a general statement that the landlord repeatedly violated your rights.

What can the Landlord and Tenant Board order?

Form T2 lists several possible remedies. Depending on the ground and evidence, a tenant can ask the LTB for remedies including:

• a rent abatement;
• an order requiring the landlord, agent or superintendent to stop the offending activity;
• an administrative fine payable to the LTB;
• an order ending the tenancy;
• compensation for property damaged, destroyed or improperly disposed of;
• certain increased-rent costs after moving because of the landlord's conduct;
• reasonable moving and storage expenses;
• other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses;
• in an illegal lockout case, an order allowing the tenant to move back into a still-vacant unit;
• return of property in the specific post-eviction circumstances covered by the form; or
• another appropriate order within the LTB's authority.

The LTB is not required to award every remedy requested. The adjudicator determines the appropriate remedy based on the proven facts and the Residential Tenancies Act.

What is the monetary limit for a T2?

The current T2 instructions state that the most the LTB can order based on the monetary claim is $50,000. The instructions warn that a person seeking more than the LTB's monetary jurisdiction should consider the court route instead if they intend to pursue the full amount.

What if the landlord changed the locks and locked you out?

Changing the locks without providing replacement keys is a specific T2 ground. A tenant can ask the LTB to order the landlord to stop the conduct and, in an appropriate case, allow the tenant to move back into the rental unit.

The move-back remedy is only available if the LTB is satisfied that the rental unit is still vacant. For that reason, Tribunals Ontario advises tenants who have been illegally locked out to act quickly.

An illegal lockout or similarly urgent situation can also be treated as a high-priority request. Tribunals Ontario reports an average scheduling time of approximately 5 to 6 weeks for urgent matters such as T2 illegal lockout cases, although actual timing can vary.

Should you file T2 or T6 for a problem with your rental unit?

Use T2 for the tenant-rights grounds listed on that application, such as harassment, illegal entry, lock changes, reasonable-enjoyment interference or interference with vital services.

Use Form T6 when the central allegation is that the landlord failed to meet their maintenance or repair obligations. If your issue is primarily disrepair, see how to file a T6 maintenance application against an Ontario landlord.

Some facts can potentially support more than one legal ground, but do not choose T2 simply because a repair problem is frustrating. Identify the actual statutory breach and the remedy you need.

What happens after you submit Form T2?

LTB staff review filed applications for completeness and filing requirements. The Board then processes the case and provides the parties with information about the proceeding, including a Notice of Hearing when a hearing is scheduled.

Tribunals Ontario currently reports that most application types other than specified landlord applications are scheduled within approximately 5 to 7 months. Urgent T2 lockout and other high-priority matters average about 5 to 6 weeks. These are averages rather than guaranteed service standards for an individual case.

The proceeding may involve adjudication or, where appropriate, dispute resolution. At a hearing, each party has an opportunity to present relevant evidence and arguments. The LTB member then decides the application and issues an order.

Tribunals Ontario states that most LTB orders are issued within its service timeline of 30 days or less after the hearing, although some decisions take longer.

Common T2 filing mistakes to avoid

• Missing the one-year limitation period for a claim that is subject to section 29 of the Residential Tenancies Act.
• Using T2 for a maintenance-only complaint that belongs on Form T6.
• Writing only that the landlord harassed you without describing the actual events.
• Leaving out dates, people involved or the duration of recurring conduct.
• Requesting compensation without explaining the amount or keeping evidence of the expense or loss.
• Assuming parking, storage or air conditioning are statutory vital services simply because they are important amenities.
• Failing to include the required application fee or approved fee-waiver documentation.
• Ignoring LTB instructions about filing evidence and participating in the proceeding after the application has been submitted.

Related Ontario tenant applications

If the dispute is about maintenance rather than a T2 tenant-rights violation, use the separate Ontario T6 maintenance process. If you believe your landlord owes you a rent rebate for a reason covered by Form T1, see how to file a T1 tenant application for a rent rebate.