Most Mobile Homes in Ontario Now Covered

Most mobile homes in Ontario are now covered by the Residential Tenancy Act. This is welcome news for landlords.




One of the many hats I wear at work is that of Park Manager for a tent and trailer park. We have many year round tenants. Some own their own trailers and others rent the trailer and the site from us.

Evicting the deadbeat tenants used to be a difficult affair. We weren’t zoned a mobile home park, therefore there were no laws we could use to evict the non payers.

Our only remedy used to be the Repair and Storage Lien Act, and we could only use that for seasonal campers who left their trailers on their site over the winter. So far I’ve gotten rid of eight deadbeats this way.

Tomorrow I file application with the Landlord and Tenant Board to evict 2 tenants. The first I’m using the L1 to collect what’s owing and evict the tenant. This tenant has already been served the N4 for non payment of rent. We’re also filing and L2 to end the tenancy for being persistently late with the rent. The L1 costs $170.00 to file and the L2 costs $170.00 to file. These costs are recoverable, along with the rent owing. Collecting the debt is another story.

The second tenant was served his first N5 for having debris and junk littering his lot as well as garbage that was creating a health hazard. They corrected the problem in 7 days and voided the N5. After serving the N8 to end the tenancy for being persistently late with the rent the junk and garbage started piling up again. He was served his 2nd N5, for which we are filing an application and he has no remedy of voiding this N5. He then built this structure out of scrap wood that site right on the corner of two roads. You can’t see to turn, you can’t see kids walking to the school bus. I’ve had several complaints of near misses at this corner. In fact I almost had a head on collision with a coworker as we both tried turning this corner. He’s been served an N7 for impaired safety. The L2 application covers all of the notices he was sent. I’m sure his lawyer thinks it’s over-kill. I’m just happy to finally have a way of getting rid of these professional tenants.

Once we get our Board Order evicting them I’m sure we’ll have to pay the Sherriff’s Office $350.00 to deliver vacant possession.

At least I won’t have to chase them for their rent or constantly send them clean up notices.

Things Looking Up for Ontario Landlords.

The Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario has increased their monetary jurisdiction from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00. Along with some tips on how to collect what’s rightfully yours.




Effective January 1 2010 landlords can recover up to $25,000.00 in arrears and property damage, up from $10,000.00. Unfortunately collecting from these “professional tenants” hasn’t gotten any easier. They are usually on welfare or disability and those cheques cannot be garnisheed.

Once you have a Board Order you can file it with the Courts for collection. Always make copies of any cheques a tenant gives you. This information is very useful when trying to have the Courts collect the debt for you.

You can also put a lien on any vehicle they own. If they sell the vehicle you get your money, or at least a portion of it.

With the information from their cheques you can attempt to garnishee their bank account. A good time to file this with the Courts is when people start getting their tax refunds.

You can also turn the matter over to a collection agency. Their fees are usually pretty steep, but you only pay if they collect. Something is better than nothing.

You can and should report them to the credit bureau.