Province temporarily pauses evictions during stay-at-home order
Posted January 14, 2021 11:01 am.
Last Updated January 14, 2021 2:23 pm.
The Ford government has moved to temporarily pause evictions while the current stay-at-home order is in effect.
Provincial officials say the emergency order issued Thursday will ensure people are not forced to leave their homes for as long as the state of emergency lasts.
The Landlord and Tenant Board will continue to hear eviction applications and issue orders, but the enforcement of eviction orders will be postponed for the duration of the emergency order, except in urgent situations – such as for illegal activity. This includes orders issued, but not carried out, before the emergency order came into effect.
“By temporarily pausing residential evictions, we are ensuring that all Ontarians are able to stay home, stay safe, and save lives,” said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
“We’re encouraging landlords and tenants to work together – as they have been doing for the last several months – to ensure that we keep Ontarians safe.”
“We want to remind tenants who can pay their rent that they must continue to do so, to the best of their abilities.”
Tenants who have been locked out by their landlord or are being threatened with such a measure can contact the province’s Rental Housing Enforcement Unit for help.
It’s the second time in less than a year that the province has paused residential evictions. Evictions were previously suspended last spring until August after the Landlord and Tenant Board worked through a backlog of cases that predated the pandemic and grew in 2020 as more people lost income.
