Bill 230 explained in plain English
Housing Equity and Rental Transparency Act, 2024
Ontario legislature bill summary, status, timeline, sponsor, votes, and official sources.
At a glance
Official Legislative Assembly of Ontario snapshot for 43rd Parliament, 1st Session. Representative vote breakdowns appear when the Assembly publishes an Ayes and Nays page for the bill.
Our plain-language take, written for civic education.
Source: By PoliticalData.ca
Bill 230 amends Ontario's residential tenancy and elevator safety laws to impose new obligations on landlords regarding indoor temperature maintenance, visitor parking, video surveillance, security staffing, and transparency of maintenance records.
Bill 230, the Housing Equity and Rental Transparency Act, 2024, is a private member's bill that makes changes to how rental housing is regulated in Ontario. **What the bill does:** The bill adds new requirements for landlords of residential buildings and strengthens existing tenant protections: *Indoor Temperature Requirements:* Landlords must keep common areas (lobbies, event spaces, exercise facilities) at 26°C or cooler from May 15 to September 15. If a landlord fails to do this, the local municipality must investigate complaints and can issue work orders. If landlords don't follow work orders, the Landlord and Tenant Board can reduce the rent by 1% per day until fixed. *Visitor Parking:* Large buildings (100+ units) must have a digital system to track visitor parking reservations. Landlords are completely prohibited from charging tenants any fee for using visitor parking facilities. *Video Surveillance:* Buildings with 100+ units must install and maintain video cameras in hallways, stairwells, and other common areas for safety and parking enforcement. Broken cameras must be fixed within 7 days. Landlords must post notices about cameras and tell prospective tenants about them before they sign a lease. Tenants can access their own video footage. *Security Guards:* Buildings with 100+ units must employ or hire security guards to patrol the building and respond to complaints like noise, smoking, or trespassing. *Rent Increase Limits:* Landlords cannot raise rent above the annual guideline solely because they had to install video surveillance systems or maintain them. Landlords also cannot charge more for amenities (like parking or parking facilities) that tenants have already been using since the start of their lease, even if it wasn't in the written agreement. *Vital Services:* If a vital service (like heat or water) is cut off for more than 24 hours total in a 3-month period, the tenant can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for a 20% rent reduction. *Elevator Outages:* If an elevator is broken for more than 48 hours in a 3-month period, tenants can apply for a 5% rent reduction. Elevator owners must use monitoring systems and report outages lasting over 24 hours to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. *Maintenance Records:* Large buildings (10+ units or 3+ storeys) must track maintenance requests publicly on an online government portal. If less than 90% of requests are resolved within a year, landlords cannot raise rent above the guideline. Tenants can post pictures and comments about maintenance issues on this portal. *Disability Support Payments:* Landlords cannot evict tenants for late rent if the rent is being paid directly by Ontario's disability support or social assistance programs. *Application Fees:* Tenants no longer pay fees to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board under certain circumstances. *Building Permits:* When giving notice of renovations that justify higher rent, landlords must now provide a copy of the building permit. **When these changes take effect:** Most changes take effect when the bill receives Royal Assent (official approval). However: - Video surveillance and building permit requirements take effect 3 years after Royal Assent - Elevator monitoring requirements take effect 12 months after Royal Assent - Building permit requirements take effect when a separate law (the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023) comes into force, or when this bill receives Royal Assent, whichever is later
- Requires landlords to maintain indoor temperature of 26°C or less in common areas from May 15 to September 15
- Empowers local municipalities to investigate temperature complaints and issue work orders to non-compliant landlords
- Allows the Landlord and Tenant Board to order rent abatement (1% per day) if landlords breach municipal work orders on temperature
- Requires buildings with 100+ rental units to install digital visitor parking registration systems
- Prohibits landlords from collecting any fee from tenants for visitor parking use
- Requires buildings with 100+ units to install and maintain video surveillance in all common areas (hallways, stairwells, lobbies, etc.)
- Requires landlords to repair video surveillance system components within 7 days of damage being reported
- Mandates posting of notices about video surveillance in all common areas and at building entrances
- Requires landlords to inform prospective tenants about video surveillance before they sign a lease
- Prevents landlords from using video surveillance as grounds for rent increases above the annual guideline
- Requires buildings with 100+ units to employ or hire security guards to patrol and respond to non-emergency complaints
- Requires tenants to receive a paper guide on the first day of tenancy explaining building amenities
- Requires landlords to update the guide every three years and provide yearly newsletters about changes in the complex
- Requires building owners to install remote electronic monitoring systems for elevators
- Requires elevator owners to submit reports to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority if an elevator is out of service for more than 24 hours in a building with rental units
- Allows tenants to submit elevator outage reports to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority
- Allows tenants to apply for 5% rent reduction if an elevator is out of service for more than 48 hours over a three-month period
- Mandates mandatory 20% rent abatement if a vital service is withheld for more than 24 hours in a 3-month period (on tenant application)
- Prohibits landlords from increasing rent if amenities (parking, parking facilities, etc.) were already provided to the tenant since the first day of occupancy
- Prevents landlords from increasing rent above the guideline if less than 90% of maintenance requests were resolved in the preceding 12 months
- Requires landlords of buildings with 10+ units or 3+ storeys to compile and upload maintenance request statistics to an online government portal annually on March 1
- Allows tenants and public to access and comment on maintenance information through the online portal
- Allows the Landlord and Tenant Board to use information from the portal in proceedings
- Repeals a provision allowing landlords to raise rent when tenant loses use of a parking space or other facility
- Prohibits eviction for late rent when rent is paid directly under disability support or social assistance programs
- Changes rent increase notice requirement from 'under a tenancy agreement' to 'under a tenancy agreement equal to at least one rental period'
- Requires building permits to accompany notices of major repairs or renovations justifying rent increases
- Prevents rent increase from taking effect if a maintenance application is pending before the Board
- Eliminates fees for tenants applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board under section 57
- Allows regulation of video surveillance monitoring, collection, and storage practices
- Tenants in residential rental units in Ontario
- Landlords of residential complexes in Ontario
- Landlords of residential complexes with 100 or more rental units
- Landlords of residential complexes with 10 or more rental units or 3 or more storeys
- Local municipalities in Ontario
- Owners of elevators in buildings containing rental units
- The Minister of Housing (now responsible for maintaining an online maintenance portal)
- The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (elevator safety regulator)
- Landlord and Tenant Board (adjudication body)
- Prospective tenants
- Tenants receiving direct rent payments under the Ontario Disability Support Program Act or Ontario Works Act
- Landlord obligation: Maintain indoor temperature of 26°C or less in common areas from May 15 to September 15
- Local municipality obligation: Investigate tenant complaints about temperature non-compliance and issue work orders
- Landlord obligation: Install digital visitor parking registration systems in buildings with 100+ units that have visitor parking
- Landlord obligation: Install and maintain video surveillance in buildings with 100+ units covering all common areas
- Landlord obligation: Repair video surveillance components within 7 days of damage being reported
- Landlord obligation: Post notices about video surveillance in common areas and at building entrances
- Landlord obligation: Inform prospective tenants of video surveillance before they enter into a tenancy
- Landlord obligation: Employ or hire security guards in buildings with 100+ units
- Landlord obligation: Provide a paper guide on building amenities on tenant's first day of occupancy
- Landlord obligation: Update the guide every three years and provide yearly newsletters
- Landlord obligation: Compile and upload annual maintenance request statistics to online portal for buildings with 10+ units or 3+ storeys
- Elevator owner obligation: Use remote electronic monitoring systems for elevators
- Elevator owner obligation: Report to Technical Standards and Safety Authority within 7 days when an elevator is out of service for more than 24 hours in a building with rental units
- Tenant right: Apply for 20% rent reduction if a vital service is withheld for more than 24 hours in a 3-month period
- Tenant right: Apply for 5% rent reduction if an elevator is out of service for more than 48 hours in a 3-month period
- Tenant right: Submit reports to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority about elevator outages
- Tenant right: Access video surveillance footage that relates to them
- Tenant right: View and comment on maintenance request information posted on the online portal
- Tenant right: Apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board without paying a fee under section 57
- Landlord prohibition: Cannot collect or attempt to collect fees for visitor parking from tenants
- Landlord prohibition: Cannot increase rent above the guideline solely because video surveillance was required to be installed
- Landlord prohibition: Cannot increase rent if amenities (like parking) were already provided to the tenant since the first day of occupancy
- Landlord prohibition: Cannot increase rent above the guideline if fewer than 90% of maintenance requests were resolved
- Landlord prohibition: Cannot use video surveillance installation or maintenance as grounds for rent increases above the guideline
- Most provisions come into force on the day the bill receives Royal Assent
- Video surveillance and security guard requirements (sections 24.1 and 24.3) come into force 3 years after Royal Assent
- Elevator remote monitoring system requirement comes into force 12 months after Royal Assent
- Building permit requirement for rent increase notices comes into force on the later of when the Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, 2023 comes into force or when Bill 230 receives Royal Assent
- Temperature requirements apply from May 15 to September 15 of each year
- Landlords must compile and upload maintenance statistics on March 1 of every year
- Tenants may receive rent reductions (abatements) of 5% to 20% or 1% per day depending on the type of violation
- Landlords must bear the cost of installing video surveillance systems in buildings with 100+ units
- Landlords must bear the cost of maintaining and repairing video surveillance systems
- Landlords must bear the cost of installing digital visitor parking registration systems in large buildings
- Landlords must bear the cost of hiring or employing security guards in buildings with 100+ units
- Landlords must bear the cost of installing and maintaining elevator remote electronic monitoring systems
- Landlords must bear the cost of installing and maintaining temperature control systems to meet the 26°C requirement
- Landlords cannot increase rent above the annual guideline to offset these new costs (except through the regular rent increase process)
- Tenants no longer pay application fees when applying to the Landlord and Tenant Board under section 57
- Landlord and Tenant Board can order abatement (reduction) of rent by 1% per day from when a temperature work order deadline expires until the day of the Board's order if the landlord breaches the work order
- Landlord and Tenant Board can order abatement of rent if the landlord fails to repair a video surveillance system component within 7 days
- Landlord and Tenant Board can order 20% abatement of rent if a vital service is withheld for more than 24 hours in a 3-month period
- Landlord and Tenant Board can order 5% abatement of rent if an elevator is out of service for more than 48 hours in a 3-month period
- Landlord and Tenant Board can order the landlord to perform the work required by a municipal temperature work order
- Landlords cannot raise rent above the guideline if they breach a temperature work order
- Landlords cannot raise rent above the guideline if they failed to resolve 90% of maintenance requests
- Landlords cannot use video surveillance system installation or maintenance as a reason to raise rent above the guideline
- Landlords cannot collect visitor parking fees (violation of section 134(4))
- Landlords cannot evict tenants for late rent if the rent is being paid directly by Ontario Disability Support Program or Ontario Works programs
- The bill does not specify how much the temperature can exceed 26°C before it violates the requirement; exact definitions of what constitutes 'failure to comply' are unclear
- The bill does not specify what happens if a landlord cannot install a digital visitor parking system for technical or practical reasons
- The bill does not detail what information the 'guide' on building amenities must contain beyond explaining amenities
- The bill does not specify the exact procedures or criteria local municipalities must use to appoint inspectors
- The bill does not provide details on what circumstances constitute being 'beyond the landlord's control' for temperature and vital service failures
- The bill does not specify the exact technical specifications required for video surveillance systems (camera resolution, field of view, storage capacity, etc.)
- The bill does not define what 'security guard' duties entail beyond patrolling and responding to non-emergency complaints
- The bill does not specify who bears the cost of video surveillance maintenance or repair if a tenant damages the system
- The bill does not state what happens if a prospective tenant refuses to sign a lease after being informed of video surveillance
- The regulations governing video surveillance monitoring, collection and storage (referenced in section 241(1)) are not yet written and are not detailed in the bill text
- The bill does not specify remedies or penalties if a landlord fails to upload maintenance statistics to the portal
- The bill does not define what constitutes 'resolved' for maintenance requests beyond compliance with municipal property standards and applicable law
- The bill does not specify consequences if the Minister fails to establish or maintain the online portal
- The bill does not clarify whether the 3-year delay for video surveillance and security guard requirements applies to all buildings or only those that currently exist
- The bill does not specify how the Board will determine relevance when deciding whether to consider portal information in a proceeding
- The bill does not explain how the Board will verify the accuracy of statistics posted on the portal
- The bill does not address what happens during the 3-year transition period before video surveillance is required (for buildings that would be affected)
- The bill does not specify what format the annual guide and newsletters must be provided in beyond 'paper format'
- The bill does not define what constitutes a 'vital service' explicitly; this term is used but not defined in the bill text
- The bill does not state whether the maintenance statistics requirement applies retroactively to buildings that existed before the bill passed
The bill adds multiple new sections and amends existing sections to establish new landlord obligations on temperature control, parking, video surveillance, security, maintenance transparency, and rent increase restrictions. It also modifies rules on eviction for non-payment when rent is subsidized and changes the requirements for rent increase notices.
Source: Section 1-15 of Bill 230
The bill adds new requirements for elevator owners to use remote monitoring systems and to report elevator outages lasting more than 24 hours in buildings with rental units to the Technical Standards and Safety Authority.
Source: Section 16 of Bill 230
The bill exempts tenants receiving direct rent payments under this program from landlord eviction for late rent payment.
Source: Section 7 of Bill 230 (amending section 58 of Residential Tenancies Act)
The bill exempts tenants receiving direct rent payments under this program from landlord eviction for late rent payment.
Source: Section 7 of Bill 230 (amending section 58 of Residential Tenancies Act)
The commencement of certain provisions in Bill 230 relating to building permits is tied to when this act comes into force.
Source: Section 17(4) of Bill 230
Generated using AI from official bill text. Not legal advice. It is written by PoliticalData.ca for civic education, automatically checked and spot-reviewed before publishing.
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Vote Summary
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Official sources
Status, sponsor, votes, and timeline on this page are drawn from these official legislative sources and public records. Each summary above is attributed to its own source.
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