If you run into trouble

Eviction

If your landlord has told you to move out, or given you a written notice of eviction, call the Peterborough Community Legal Centre at 749-9355 or the Housing Resource Centre at 743-9122 immediately. We can tell you if the eviction is legal and help you through the process. You may be able to avoid or delay eviction if you get legal help.

If you have rent arrears and may be evicted, you may be able to get one-time help through the Housing Resource Centre or other local sources. See the Emergency Assistance section below.

The Residential Tenancies Act gives a number of reasons for eviction. You can be evicted if:

you do not pay your rent
you often pay your rent late
you or a guest commit an illegal act on the property or cause damage or problems for the landlord or other tenants
the landlord or a member of his or her immediate family want to move in.

You can't be evicted for having a pet unless it is proven that the pet is causing problems for other people in the building.

If you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or a member of the owner's immediate family, you are not covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, and can be asked to leave without notice or return of rent paid.

If your housing is covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, your landlord cannot make you move out unless he or she goes through the eviction process at the Landlord Tenant Board.

For a legal eviction, your landlord must first give you a Notice to Terminate a Tenancy. If you owe rent, or if you or a guest have caused problems, the Notice gives you time to pay your rent, stop causing the problem, or fix any damage.

If you don't pay your rent or fix the problem by the deadline, your landlord can file an Application to Terminate a Tenancy. The Landlord Tenant Board will mail you a copy of the Application with a Notice of Hearing telling you when you must appear at the Board. To see what the Notice and Application forms look like, go to the Landlord Tenant Board website.

You may be able to stop the application before the hearing if you pay the amount owing to your landlord or make a written agreement with your landlord. If you are unable to stop the application, you must attend your hearing before the Board. At your hearing, you may be able to mediate or negotiate a settlement that avoids eviction. If you do not go to your hearing, your landlord may get an eviction order from the Board.

Contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre at 743-9355 for legal advice before you attend your hearing. The Legal Centre can give you advice about Board notices, repayment plans, and documentation to take to a hearing. You can also speak to the Duty Counsel the day of your hearing.

If the Board issues an order for eviction, contact the Legal Centre and the Housing Resource Centre to find out your options. You may be able to prevent the eviction. If the order is for rent arrears, you may be able to stop the eviction by paying all the arrears and the landlord’s application fees. You may be able to stop the eviction right up to the time the sheriff comes to change the locks.

If you are being evicted, call the Housing Resource Centre. We can give you:

vacancy listings to help you find new housing
information about local shelters if you become homeless
information about funds you may be eligible for to help you with moving or storage costs or last month's rent, including our Emergency Assistance Fund

Utility Disconnection

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Utility companies can disconnect people in winter. There is no law or rule stopping them from turning off the hydro or gas if your bill isn't paid no matter how cold it is outside, or if you have children.

If you didn't pay a security deposit when you moved in, you may be charged a deposit if you have trouble paying your bill or get disconnected. Peterborough Utilities Services charges customers a security deposit if they get 2 credit points. Customers get 1 credit point for a hand delivered notice, 1 point for an NSF payment, and 2 points for a house visit. Note that other utility companies may handle the collections and disconnection process differently.

If you run into trouble with your utility bills, there may be emergency financial assistance available to you through the Housing Resource Centre or other local sources. See the Emergency Assistance section below.

Emergency Assistance for Rent or Utilities

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The Housing Resource Centre provides emergency financial assistance to low-income people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the City and County of Peterborough. Our funds can help people to get or keep housing by providing one-time, emergency help for costs related to housing, e.g. last month's rent, moving costs, rental arrears, and utility arrears.

Contact us immediately at (705) 743-9122 if you receive an eviction notice, or if your heat or hydro company is threatening to cut off your service, or if you are literally homeless. If you are eligible to apply, we will make an appointment with a Housing Support Worker to do the application. You will be told what information you need to bring with you.

Please note that our ability to help people depends on the money we get for the funds. There are times when we do not have funds available, or have funds for some problems but not others. If we don't have funds when you call, we will try to help you find help through another source, or try to advocate on your behalf.

Please also note that our staff resources and available appointments are limited. It takes 5 to 7 days after an appointment to verify information and obtain a final decision on your application.

People who are receiving Ontario Works or ODSP may be eligible for Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) or Discretionary Benefits to help with rent arrears, last month's rent, moving and storage costs, utility arrears and utility deposits. For people on Ontario Works, ask your worker about the Community Start Up and Discretionary Benefits. For people on ODSP, ask your worker about Community Start Up. If you don't have any Community Start Up left, you can call Ontario Works to ask about Discretionary Benefits.

For people who are not receiving Ontario Works or ODSP, you may be eligible for emergency assistance through Ontario Works, or for help through the National Child Benefit Fund if you have children and receive the Child Tax Credit. Call the City and County of Peterborough Social Services at 748-8830.

The Salvation Army also provides some emergency assistance through their Family Services program. Call 742-4391.

Contact the Peterborough Community Legal Centre, or go to CLEO or ACTO for more information on tenants’ rights and responsibilities.

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