u/NoRazzmatazz2672

Hi all,

I need feedback on an idea:

I'd like to write anonymously to my MPP about some of the things I've seen and experienced while renting (landlords not complying with the LTB, dodgy listings making it confusing to identify legitimate listings, etc.)

I took a class in college where we had to write to local politicians to highlight issues, which is what inspired the idea.

Thank you!

I subleased from a head tenant in Toronto for ~3 years. I rented a furnished room in a furnished apartment. They took a security deposit of ~490 CAD that I was concerned that was not legal. I told them as much and they said "this is a sublease, I don't think we'll run into legal issues." The head tenant did not live with me. I shared the place with 2 other roommates at a time. All roommates paid rent to the head tenant.

When I moved out ~2.5 months ago, they did not offer a move out inspection. They told me to send a video of the room, which I did.

5 days later they told me they were not returning my security deposit.

In the email they stated

* Half was deducted half for cleanliness that they attributed to a stench in the room that neither me nor my roommate noticed. I stated to them as much via messaging app. They provided no cleaning receipts detailing the cost of the cleaning and itemized breakdown of costs when I asked. They provided no proof of the source of the smell or proof that I caused the smell. They stated cleanliness was agreed upon verbally between them and me upon move-in, and that was the reason for them witholding the deposit I'm fairly certain was illegal to collect.

*Half was deducted for "destroying the desk". The desk was covered with laminate which perforated naturally over years. When I moved in, I took a video of the room (which I sent them in response to their deductions of the deposit), which clearly shows perforation on the dresser made of the similar material. They stated I poked holes in it, with no proof. I asked for a receipt showing purchase of the desk, including original price and calculation showing depreciated value upon my move out, and cost of repairs. They did not produce the receipt.

*** I'm assuming these were the only things they deducted the deposit for. They hurled a bunch of accusations at me via messagging app and email, not limited to but including:

• "The mattress is warped." -> I have a move out video showing the memory foam mattress in a shape conforming to a human body (mine) which I sent them.

• They said in an email that I "abused and destroyed the furniture" in response to this and other accusations that were untrue, and "hoped I could own up to my actions". I rejected the "furniture abuse" narrative via email.

• "You didn't mop." -> I left the room broom swept, which I reminded them of via messaging app.

• They blamed me for marks on the floor that were pre-existing via email and text. I refuted this claim with my move-in and early-tenancy videos & photos showing the marks on the floor via messaging app.

They then said, when I refuted all these accusations - that (amongst other things) they didn't have a job and to please let the deposit go.

What to do? I'm thinking of sending a final demand letter in a reasonable tone asking to produce, as a justification for withholding the deposit in the first place:

(1) evidence of the desk purchase, present value and repair costs, including proof I caused the holes.

(2) evidence of the source of the smell, and cleaning services performed (itemized, aligned with the source of the smell) and proof I caused the source.

I will ask in a reasonable them to return the deposit within 7 days of the sending of this letter before I consider going to the LTB or Small Claims Court as applicable.

Genuine well-informed guidance would be helpful and much appreciated. Please note that I am posting here in good faith thinking this is a fairly simple question.

I subleased from a head tenant for ~3 years. I rented a furnished room in a furnished apartment. They took a security deposit of ~490 CAD that I was concerned that was not legal. I told them as much and they said "this is a sublease, I don't think we'll run into legal issues." The head tenant did not live with me. I shared the place with 2 other roommates at a time. All roommates paid rent to the head tenant.

When I moved out ~2.5 months ago, they did not offer a move out inspection. They told me to send a video of the room, which I did.

5 days later they told me they were not returning my security deposit.

In the email they stated

* Half was deducted half for cleanliness that they attributed to a stench in the room that neither me nor my roommate noticed. I stated to them as much via messaging app. They provided no cleaning receipts detailing the cost of the cleaning and itemized breakdown of costs when I asked. They provided no proof of the source of the smell or proof that I caused the smell. They stated cleanliness was agreed upon verbally between them and me upon move-in, and that was the reason for them witholding the deposit I'm fairly certain was illegal to collect.

*Half was deducted for "destroying the desk". The desk was covered with laminate which perforated naturally over years. When I moved in, I took a video of the room (which I sent them in response to their deductions of the deposit), which clearly shows perforation on the dresser made of the similar material. They stated I poked holes in it, with no proof. I asked for a receipt showing purchase of the desk, including original price and calculation showing depreciated value upon my move out, and cost of repairs. They did not produce the receipt.

*** I'm assuming these were the only things they deducted the deposit for. They hurled a bunch of accusations at me via messagging app and email, not limited to but including:

• "The mattress is warped." -> I have a move out video showing the memory foam mattress in a shape conforming to a human body (mine) which I sent them.

• They said in an email that I "abused and destroyed the furniture" in response to this and other accusations that were untrue, and "hoped I could own up to my actions". I rejected the "furniture abuse" narrative via email.

• "You didn't mop." -> I left the room broom swept, which I reminded them of via messaging app.

• They blamed me for marks on the floor that were pre-existing via email and text. I refuted this claim with my move-in and early-tenancy videos & photos showing the marks on the floor via messaging app.

They then said, when I refuted all these accusations - that (amongst other things) they didn't have a job and to please let the deposit go.

What to do? I'm thinking of sending a final demand letter in a reasonable tone asking to produce, as a justification for withholding the deposit in the first place:

(1) evidence of the desk purchase, present value and repair costs, including proof I caused the holes.

(2) evidence of the source of the smell, and cleaning services performed (itemized, aligned with the source of the smell) and proof I caused the source.

I will ask in a reasonable them to return the deposit within 7 days of the sending of this letter before I consider going to the LTB or Small Claims Court as applicable.

Genuine well-informed guidance would be helpful and much appreciated.

I (South Asian & female) had a weird experience with another South Asian woman and wanted to post here to make sure I'm not imagining things.

This woman would post Black Lives Matter content heavily on her Instagram and even had Black family members. She then made blanket statements like "Black people need to understand ...". She said "I was bullied by a Black kid growing up" which offers some clue as to her bias.

Is this just closeted racism? Ie. Privately saying something while publicly saying something else?

I interviewed at a start-up after finishing grad school in Canada. For context, I have an undergrad degree from an elite engineering school in the US and international work & internship experience across the US, UAE and Canada.

CEO- "you've worked all over the place, are you planning to stay in Canada". I thought international experience was a good thing? Instead the CEO made me feel ashamed about it - even if this was not her intention, it's the impact that matters.

CTO- "don't say anything about intellectual property" when I talked about a technology I was working with. The detail she was referring to was **literally** publicly available on the internet in a patent. It was googleable.

I later heard this company's technology was not progressing as much as it should, and that the environment there was toxic.

How are we supposed to progress when executives who behave this way are being funded?

Sharing some lessons that can help renters avoid disputes. Rental rules can depend on the exact situation, so always check what applies to your specific tenancy. Not legal advice, just things I'd wish I'd done differently.

1.USE THE ONTARIO STANDARD LEASE WHEN IT APPLIES

- For most residential tenancies in Ontario covered under the RTA, use the Ontario Standard Lease.

- Avoid relying only on verbal agreements, informal arrangements, or custom clauses that you do not fully understand.

- Any clauses in RTA leases inconsistent with the Act or the regulation aren’t valid, even if you signed a lease with them, as far as I know.

- Read every page before signing and keep a complete copy.

2. SEEK ADVICE BEFORE SIGNING NON-STANDARD LEASES OR UNUSUAL AGREEMENTS

- If you are presented with a lease that is not the Ontario Standard Lease (where the standard lease applies), or an agreement with unusual terms, get advice before signing. These can be situations where you share a kitchen and bathroom with the landlord or landlord’s immediate family. Beware of cheap pricing that is too good to be true.

- Do not assume a clause is enforceable just because it appears in a contract.

- It is much easier to ask questions before signing than to resolve a dispute later.

3. UNDERSTAND EVERY PAYMENT BEFORE YOU SEND MONEY

- Ask what each payment is for and keep a record.

- Be cautious about paying large amounts upfront without understanding your rights and obligations.

- Keep proof of all payments.

4. BE CAUTIOUS WITH DEPOSITS AND EXTRA FEES - AVOID UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

- Understand whether a requested deposit or fee is permitted under Ontario rules.

- Do not assume that a payment described as a “damage deposit,” “security deposit,” or another label is automatically valid.

- Get clarification in writing.

5. AVOID PAYING MULTIPLE MONTHS OF RENT UPFRONT UNLESS YOU UNDERSTAND THE ARRANGEMENT AND UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

- Large upfront payments can create problems if a dispute happens later.

- Make sure you understand exactly what you are paying and why.

6. KEEP RENT PAYMENTS TRACEABLE

- Use payment methods that create a record, such as e-transfer when appropriate.

-Avoid arrangements requiring post-dated cheques unless absolutely necessary. Avoid cash payments at all costs.

- Save confirmations and keep messages showing what payments were for.

7. INSPECT THE UNIT AND APPLIANCES BEFORE MOVING IN

- Check that appliances are working properly before accepting the unit.

- Test items such as the fridge, stove, oven, dishwasher, laundry machines, heating/cooling systems, and other provided equipment.

- Document any problems immediately with photos or videos.

- Report issues in writing and keep copies of your messages.

8. TAKE TIME-STAMPED PHOTOS AND VIDEOS BEFORE MOVE-IN

- Record the condition of the room/unit when moving in and moving out.

- Include floors, walls, closets, appliances, fixtures, and any existing issues.

- Keep the original files and avoid editing them.

- Good documentation can prevent disagreements from becoming one person’s word against another’s.

9. VERIFY WHO YOU ARE RENTING FROM

- Are they the owner, a tenant subletting, or a roommate?

- If it is a sublet or room rental, understand the arrangement before paying money.

- If you are unsure whether a sublease is authorized, consider contacting the building/property manager with the rental advertisement and asking whether the arrangement is permitted.

- Keep a copy of any response you receive. Also save copies of the advertisement & messages confirming this person is who they say they are.

- proceed with caution if they avoid landlord responsibilities but still collect rent

10. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT RENTING, ASK TO SPEAK WITH A CURRENT OR PREVIOUS TENANT BEFORE SIGNING THE LEASE AND SENDING MONEY

- A quick conversation with someone who has lived there can reveal issues that are not obvious during a showing.

- * Ask about the landlord/tenant relationship, maintenance, communication, rules, and any problems they experienced.*

- Do this before signing or sending large amounts of money.

11. INSPECT THE ENTIRE LIVING ARRANGEMENT BEFORE MOVING IN.

- If renting a room, check shared areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and common spaces.

- The condition and rules of shared spaces can greatly affect your experience.

12. IN NON-RTA COVERED LEASES, BE CAREFUL WITH CLAUSES AND HOUSE RULES - AVOID UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

- Read all clauses carefully before signing.

- Think twice about rules that go beyond normal use of a home or that impose very specific lifestyle requirements.

- Make sure you understand what you are agreeing to before committing.

13. BE CAUTIOUS WITH CLEANLINESS AND MOVE-OUT REQUIREMENTS IN NON-RTA COVERED LEASING AGREEMENTS - AVOID UNLESS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY

- Clarify cleaning expectations before moving in.

- Be careful with clauses requiring a specific level of cleaning or professional cleaning at move-out.

- Make sure expectations are clear and reasonable before signing.

14. BE CAREFUL WITH CONVERTED ROOMS

- If a living room, basement, or other area has been converted into a bedroom, ask questions.

- Consider whether the setup is suitable, safe, and acceptable for your needs.

15. KEEP COMMUNICATION PROFESSIONAL AND IN WRITING FOR ANY MAINTENANCE ISSUES

- Confirm important conversations by text or email. - Avoid relying on verbal promises. - Written records are valuable if disagreements occur.

16. LEARN THE RULES BEFORE THERE IS A PROBLEM

- Understanding your rights and responsibilities before signing or moving out can save a lot of time, stress, and money.

Biggest lessons: understand and document everything. A few minutes spent taking photos, videos, and saving records can make a major difference months later.

A warning for anyone looking for a cheap room rental: sometimes the lower price comes with risks that are not obvious at first.

Older apartments can have years of accumulated wear and tear — damaged flooring, aging walls, worn fixtures, old appliances, and other issues that existed long before you moved in. The extensive damage can be exhausting to document.

The problem is that when you move out, disagreements can happen over what was already there versus what you are responsible for.

My advice: be very cautious before renting a room in an older apartment, especially if the condition is already questionable when you move in. Avoid unless absolutely necessary.

Before signing anything:

- Inspect the place carefully during daylight.

- Take photos and videos of every existing issue and communicate in writing.

- Ask who is responsible for pre-existing damage.

- Get everything in writing.

- Be realistic about whether the apartment is being maintained properly.

Sometimes saving money on rent is not worth the stress of dealing with disputes later. A clean, well-maintained place with clear expectations can save you a lot of trouble.

I had a bad roommate experience in the past. What could I have done in this situation?

I am female and have no immediate family in Canada, and I'm fairly certain my roommate knew this. I was on a separate lease I'm fairly certain was not RTA covered.

I shared the apartment with 2 other roommates. During a short time in the summer of 2024, the 2 lessors moved into one of the rooms and one of the lessors witnessed a roomate moving her hands in a choking gesture in front of her throat in anger towards me in the kitchen. The lessor did nothing and instead fixated on things I was doing that they thought prompted my roommate's behavior.

Since I was on a non-RTA covered lease and too afraid to do anything except heal I was not able to act for years. The roommate eventually moved out and returned home overseas and I finally worked up the courage to call counseling resources in Toronto. They were concerned at the roommate harming me and advised me to talk to Victim Services and to block them on social media. I have since moved out.

I still do not know whether I had protections against this type of behavior in a non- RTA covered sublease.

Posting to understand my rights in this situation and to help others who might be put in this situation. Thank you!