The tenant's landlord is the unit owner, and section 20 makes the landlord responsible for the unit's repair whoever ends up doing or paying for the work. A tenant's application to the Landlord and Tenant Board is against the landlord, not the corporation.
Who pays for repairs in a rented condo unit in Ontario?
The unit owner, as landlord, answers to the tenant for every repair under section 20 of the Residential Tenancies Act. Between the owner and the condo corporation, the Condominium Act, 1998 splits the work, and the declaration can move that split.
Reviewed 2026-09-26
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The tenant's side
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Maintenance: unit and common elements
Section 90 says the corporation maintains the common elements and each owner maintains their unit. Maintaining includes repairing normal wear and tear, but not repairing after damage.
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Repair after damage
Section 89 gives repair after damage, to units and common elements, to the corporation. It covers repair and replacement after damage or failure, but not improvements beyond the standard unit for that class of unit. The standard unit is described in a corporation by-law or, where there is none, in a schedule the Act provides for.
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The declaration can change it
Section 91 lets the declaration move the line: owners repair their own units after damage, owners maintain some common elements, owners maintain and repair the common elements they have exclusive use of, or the corporation maintains parts of the units. Read the declaration and the standard unit by-law before deciding who pays.
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Damage that starts in the unit
Under section 105, where the owner, a tenant or anyone living in the unit with the owner's permission causes damage to the unit, the corporation can add the lesser of the repair cost and its insurance deductible to the unit's common expenses. A by-law can widen that.
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Where Roundhouse fits
Before booking, we confirm with management whether the work is in the unit or on the common elements, then work to the building's rules and record the damage with photos. See maintenance for condo rentals, leaks between units, or time the tenant's notice with the entry notice calculator.
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Questions
Is the condo corporation responsible for repairs inside a unit?
Not for ordinary maintenance. Section 90 of the Condominium Act puts maintenance of a unit on its owner and the common elements on the corporation, while section 89 gives repair after damage to the corporation, up to the standard unit. The declaration can move either line, so read it and the standard unit by-law first. See maintenance for condo corporations.
Does the condo corporation pay to repair upgrades in a unit?
Not by default. Section 89 (2) excludes improvements made to a unit from the corporation's obligation to repair after damage, measured against the standard unit for that class of unit.
Can the corporation charge the owner for damage the tenant caused?
Yes. Under section 105 (2), if an owner, a lessee of the owner or a person living in the unit with the owner's permission causes damage to the unit, the lesser of the repair cost and the corporation's insurance deductible is added to the unit's common expenses.
Can the condo corporation enter a rented unit?
Yes. Section 19 lets the corporation, or a person it authorizes, enter a unit at any reasonable time on reasonable notice to carry out its duties or exercise its powers.
What if the owner does not do a repair the corporation needs done?
Section 92 lets the corporation do the work where the owner fails to within a reasonable time, in the cases it sets out, and add the cost to the common expenses for the unit.
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Sources
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