Bills, tax relief, rental supports, and the health and safety information listed on this page is meant to support tenants and property owners minimize COVID-19 pandemic impacts.
Tenants who are asked to self-isolate or who can’t work, may have difficulty affording their rent.
All property owners are strongly urged to find ways to help tenants to stay in their homes. The City encourages landlords and tenants to proactively communicate about their situations and establish fair arrangements, including deferring their rent or other payment arrangements (such as allowing tenants to use their last month rent cheque to cover payment).
The City is working to enhance and expand financial supports to help tenants maintain their homes and offers supports, such as:
Toronto Community Housing will be flexible and work with market rent and rent-geared-to-income tenants.
The City directed social and affordable housing providers to be flexible, exercise discretion and work with tenants.
Learn about the eviction process, what makes an eviction legal, types of evictions and how to fight an eviction.
The following resources provide information on your rights and responsibilities as a tenant:
The following organizations can assist tenants:
The following are some tenant-led City-wide resources:
Amendments to Chapter 354, Apartment Buildings, which required apartment building owners and operators to implement COVID-19 measures in apartment buildings, expired on April 8, 2022.
As we learn to live with COVID-19, it is still important to reduce the spread of the virus as much as possible. Landlords and Condo Boards are still encouraged to ensure adequate health and safety measures to protect residents from COVID-19. The City encourages all property owners to check in on their vulnerable residents and if necessary, connect them to the appropriate local agencies and supports.
The City of Toronto’s Mask Bylaw (Bylaw 541-2020 as amended by Bylaw 664-2020), which required masking policies in common areas of apartment buildings and condominiums, expired effective March 21, 2022, to coincide with changes to Government of Ontario masking requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act. Toronto residents must continue to comply with any provincial masking requirements.
Review Toronto Public Health’s information for residents in residential buildings.
The 60-day grace period for property tax and utility bill payments and late penalties ended May 15, 2020.
Home owners can apply for property tax relief if they experience illness that results in loss of work, or if they are experiencing extreme poverty.
As the City is not accepting in-person pre-payment of the Municipal Land Transfer Tax (MLTT), an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) process is now available.
The 60-day grace period for property tax and utility bill payments and late penalties ended May 15, 2020.
The Government of Ontario has introduced the COVID-19 Energy Assistance Program (CEAP), which provides a one-time, on-bill credit to eligible customers in need of financial assistance during this time. Learn more and apply via Toronto Hydro’s website.
Toronto Hydro also has additional financial assistance programs which may help customers manage their electricity costs. For help with billing concerns and payment options, please contact Toronto Hydro directly at 416-542-8000.
Customers behind on electricity or natural gas bill and face having service disconnected may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). There are also special customer service rules available for low-income households. Customers need to meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs.
Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP) Customers of an electricity utility and in a lower-income home may qualify for a reduction on your electricity bill through this program.