If landlords do not use the Standard Form of Lease when entering into a written tenancy agreement on or after April 30, 2018, they will have 21 days to provide one to the tenant after the tenant makes a written request.
If the landlord does not provide the tenant with a Standard Form of Lease after the written request was made, the tenant is allowed to withhold one month’s rent, or give the landlord a 60 days’ notice to end their tenancy early.
If the tenant chooses to withhold the rent, the landlord has 30 days to provide the tenant with the Standard Form of Lease. If the landlord does not do this, the tenant does not have to repay that month’s rent.
Note: The tenant is only allowed to withhold one month’s rent, and is expected to continue paying their rent for the rest of the tenancy.
The Ontario Residential Tenancy Agreement (Standard Form of Lease), can be found at http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page18704.asp