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Jessica
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Debra, Expert
Hello and Welcome to JustAnswer. My name is***** will be working on your question today and I am looking forward to our conversation.
Debra, Expert
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Debra, Expert
I know your question is important to you and I will be giving it the time and attention it deserves.
I am sorry to hear of this difficult situation.
In Ontario that laws that protects tenants is the Residential Tenancies Act.
The Act provides that it's the Landlord's responsibility to keep the home in good repair. That includes keeping the home pest free.
You may not withhold rent but have other options available to you. Before you exercise these options you have to make your requests to the Landlord in writing.
After that one option is to call the government agency that enforces housing by-laws and regulations if you feel these are being breached.
You can call 311.
At the same time you can file a complaint with the Landlord Tenant Board.
Here is a link to the form you will need to do this:
http://www.sjto.gov.on.ca/ltb/forms/
Use T6
This sounds like an urgent matter so I suggest that you call the landlord and tenant board first thing tomorrow morning if you can't get through now and ask for an urgent hearing. Explain that the place is not fit for habitation.
It is not likely the case at the landlord and tenant Board would agree to have a lease that aside without your first trying to get this rectified. Here's a link to their contact information:
https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/contact/
You will note that on this form you can ask for a rent abatement, or to pay some of the rent to the Board until the repairs are done. You can also ask to do the repairs and get paid back or have the landlord do them.
Does that help as a starting point?
Debra, Expert
If not let me know!
Debra, Expert
Thank you for trusting us to help you here at JustAnswer. If you need more clarification or have a follow-up question just reply and we can continue our dialogue. If you would like to ask me new questions please start a new post and if you do if you say “This is only for Debra” I will be sure to give your post top priority.