Tenant Rights and Responsibilities

The City of Cornwall is committed to your right to safe housing:

  • Know your rights: Learn the rights and responsibilities for tenants and landlords.

  • Need help? You may qualify for social housing.

  • Find a rental: Search on Kijiji or Facebook, or contact a real estate agent. Always be aware of rental scams.

Learn your rights

Explore your rights as a tenant when moving, inside your home and how to handle any issues.

When you move into a new rental, you have the right to get a copy of your signed lease agreement.

Once you are living in the unit, your landlord is only permitted to increase your rent once per year. Any increase must also follow the official provincial rent control guidelines.

When moving out

You can live in your home until one of these things happens:

  • You give your landlord proper written notice that you are leaving.

  • You and your landlord mutually agree to end the tenancy.

  • The Landlord and Tenant Board issues an official eviction order.

If your landlord gives you a notice to leave, you have the right to stay in your home and dispute it at a hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board. Only the Board can legally evict you.

After you move in, you have the right to privacy in your home. Your landlord can only enter your rental unit for specific reasons allowed by law. They must typically give you 24 hours written notice before entering. The only exceptions are in case of a genuine emergency, or if you give them permission to enter.

You are also protected from discrimination and harassment by the Ontario Human Rights Code. This means your landlord cannot treat you unfairly because of your:

  • Race, ancestry or place of origin

  • Colour, citizenship or ethnic origin

  • Religious beliefs or political beliefs

  • Sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity

  • Age, marital status or family status

  • Physical or mental disability

  • Because you receive social assistance

Use this guide to know who to contact for different types of issues.

For excessive noise

If a neighbour is causing a noise disturbance, call the City of Cornwall By-law office at 613-930-2787, ext. 2310. If the noisy person is a tenant in your building, you should also notify your landlord. Keep a record of the dates and times the noise occurs.

For repairs and safety hazards 

If something in your unit is broken, or if you have issues with mold, pests or other unsafe conditions, you must tell your landlord in writing and keep a copy for your records.

If your landlord doesn't fix the problem, you can then call the City of Cornwall By-law office at 613-930-2787, ext. 2310 to file a complaint.

Your responsibilities

As a tenant, you are responsible for the following:

  • Following our property standards.

  • Pay your rent in full and on time.

  • Keep your rental unit clean and in good condition.

  • Repair any damage caused by you or your guests.

  • Obtain tenant insurance to protect your personal belongings.

  • If you wish to move out, you must provide your landlord with a written notice (usually 60 days) ending on the last day of a rental period.

  • You must pay rent and any separate utilities for your entire notice period, even if you move out earlier.

  • Do not smoke in public areas like hallways, lobbies, or common rooms.

  • If you have a pet, you must clean up after it, repair any damage it causes and ensure it does not disturb other tenants or cause harm.

  • Be respectful of your neighbors by keeping noise at a reasonable level at all times.

  • You may be responsible for outdoor chores like mowing the lawn or shoveling snow, depending on your lease agreement.

Help keep your home and community safe

Your actions help create a secure environment for everyone. Please follow these safety tips:

  • Verify visitors: Use your peephole or window to check who is at the door. Do not let strangers into your building.

  • Secure entrances: Always close and lock the main building door behind you.

  • Lock your doors: Keep your apartment door locked at all times, even when you are just stepping out to the laundry room. Remember to also lock balcony doors.

  • Be aware: Look inside the elevator before you get in. If you feel uneasy about another passenger, wait for the next one.

  • Report issues: Tell your landlord about any illegal or threatening behaviour. In an emergency, always call 911.

Easy Ways to Protect the Environment

Here are simple steps you can take to protect the environment at home:

Save energy and money:

  • Replace old light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent (CFL) bulbs

  • Keep heating vents clear of furniture and curtains

  • On cold days, open your blinds to let sunlight warm your home, and close them at night to keep the heat in

  • On hot days, close your blinds to keep the sun from heating your home

  • Ask your landlord to fix any leaking taps immediately to stop wasting water

Reduce waste:

  • Please sort your garbage and recycling correctly

  • Use our leaf and yard waste collection service

Contact Us

City of Cornwall
360 Pitt Street
Cornwall, ON, K6J 3P9
Telephone: 613-930-2787

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