Ontario Plumbing and Leaks Series

Leaks, water damage, frozen pipes, no hot water, clogs and plumbing emergencies in an Ontario rental: who fixes it, who pays and when the landlord can enter.

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Water Leak in an Ontario Rental: Who Pays for the Damage?

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ONArticle

Water Leak in an Ontario Rental: Who Pays for the Damage?

After a water leak in an Ontario rental, who pays depends on the cause, whose property was damaged and what insurance each side carries. Here is how the Residential Tenancies Act divides it.

Who pays for what after a water leak in an Ontario rental?
Does an Ontario landlord have to fix a leak even if the tenant caused it?
When does an Ontario tenant pay for leak damage?
Is an Ontario landlord responsible for a tenant's belongings damaged by a leak?
Who pays when the leak comes from the unit above in Ontario?
Where does insurance fit after a leak in an Ontario rental?

+5 more chapters in the guide

11 min read · 11 chapters

All articles

Maintenance repairs
ONArticle
No Hot Water in an Ontario Rental: What the Law Requires and What Tenants Can Do
Hot water is a vital service under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act. Here are the temperature rules, who repairs the water heater, and what tenants can do if hot water is not restored.
12 min readOctober 28, 2026
Maintenance repairs
ONArticle
Frozen Pipes in an Ontario Rental: Who Is Responsible When They Burst?
Ontario's maintenance standards require plumbing to be protected from freezing, and that duty sits with the landlord. Here is when a tenant can be charged, what Toronto's by-laws add and how to prevent a burst.
11 min readOctober 29, 2026
Maintenance repairs
ONArticle
Plumbing Emergency in an Ontario Rental: Can the Landlord Enter Without Notice?
A burst pipe lets an Ontario landlord enter without notice. A dripping tap does not, even if the tenant asked for the repair. Here is how the entry rules apply to plumbing.
10 min readOctober 29, 2026
Maintenance repairs
ONArticle
Clogged Toilet or Drain in an Ontario Rental: Who Pays the Plumber?
Keeping drains clear is part of an Ontario landlord's repair duty. A tenant pays only when a blockage came from their own wilful or negligent conduct, and the landlord has to prove it.
10 min readOctober 29, 2026
Maintenance repairs
ONArticle
Landlord Won't Fix a Leak in Ontario? Tenant Options at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)
When an Ontario landlord ignores a leak, tenants have three real tools: a written record, the municipality's property standards office, and a T6 application at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
12 min readOctober 29, 2026