The 2024 Tenant Guide is your source for the most up-to-date resources for protecting your tenancy.
Fill out the form on this page to request a paper copy of the guide or click here to download your digital copy of the 2024 Tenant Guide.
Note: Broken Links in the 2024 Tenant Guide
We've done our best to ensure all links in the Tenant Guide are accurate and functional at the time of publication, however many of these links are to external sites that we do not maintain. The following is a list of broken links in the 2024 Tenant Guide - the links provided below should be functional. If you come across any broken links in the 2024 Tenant Guide that are not listed here, please let us know by email at [email protected]. Thank you for your understanding!
City of Waterloo Noise Bylaws (broken link on page 14)
Standard Lease from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing (broken link on page 18)
Steps to Justice Housing Law Resource (broken link on page 23)
Conestoga College Student Housing (broken link on page 23)
Region of Waterloo - rent resources (broken link on page 24)
General resources for tenants:
- Social Development Centre
- Steps to Justice: Housing Law
- Rental Registry: The Rental Registry allows you to know the rent paid for a rental unit, currently or in the past. It gives the power of open data to tenants, by creating transparency in the rental market.
If you are facing harassment:
- Steps to Justice Resouce
- What Tenants Need to Know About the Law Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
- Harassment and Discrimination Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
- T2 — Application Form to the Landlord and Tenant Board About Your Tenant Rights
- Demand letter about harassment courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting harassment by your landlord courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
If you have problems with repairs and maintenance in your unit:
- Steps to Justice — Online Guide About Repairs and Maintenance
- Pest Problems (mice, cockroaches, bedbugs) in Your Unit — Steps to Justice
- Repairs and Maintenance Guide — Community Legal Education Ontario
- T6 — Tenant Application Form About Maintenance
- City of Waterloo Bylaws and enforcement
- Demand letter to your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
- Form for documenting incidents and communication with your landlord about repairs and maintenance courtesy of Neighbourhood Legal Services
If you have problems with rent increases and evictions
- Steps to Justice resources on evictions
- Steps to Justice resource on rent increases
- Web tool for tenants who are roommates and share rental housing costs — Community Legal Education Ontario
- Does your landlord want you to move out factsheet — Community Legal Education Ontario
- Fighting an Eviction — Community Legal Education Ontario
- Rent Increases — Community Legal Education Ontario
- Guide to N13 forms - Social Development Centre
Organizing a Tenants' Association
One of the best ways to secure your rights as a tenant is to form a tenants' association. If you want to organize a tenants' association in your building, please reach out to our office and we will connect you to support on this process.
- Tenant Organizing Best Practices Slides — courtesy of 280 Wellesley St. E. Tenants' Association
- Tenant Organizing Manual — Community Legal Education Ontario
Organizations that can help you with your housing issues, or support your organizing
- Waterloo Region Community Legal Services
- Eviction Prevention Waterloo Region
- Lutherwood's housing services
- For general housing legal assistance Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO)
- For racialized groups, elderly, people with disabilities - Specialty Clinics, Community Legal Education Ontario
- If you have questions about your human rights and/or discrimination in housing — Human Rights Legal Support Centre
- If you need legal aid — Legal Aid Ontario
- If you need advice on the phone about tenant rights as soon as possible — Pro bono Ontario
- If you are a senior with housing problems who cannot afford a lawyer — Advocacy Centre for the Elderly
- If you have housing issues related to a disability or in which you require medical-related accommodation — Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation
- If you have questions or need support related to cooperative housing — Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada
If you are looking for housing: