Ontario Landlord Guide › Who pays for pest control (bed bugs, mice, cockroaches) in an Ontario rental?

Who pays for pest control (bed bugs, mice, cockroaches) in an Ontario rental?

Last updated October 25, 2026 · Written for small Ontario landlords

Short answer: In most cases, you do. Your duty to keep the unit in a good state of repair and fit for habitation applies even if the tenant knew about the problem when they moved in (RTA s. 20). The provincial maintenance standards say a residential complex shall be kept reasonably free of rodents, vermin and insects, and that extermination methods must follow municipal or provincial law (O. Reg. 517/06, s. 46). You can ask the LTB to make the tenant pay only if the tenant, another occupant or their guest wilfully or negligently caused undue damage (RTA ss. 34, 89(1)).

Official source: O. Reg. 517/06 (Maintenance Standards), s. 46: rodents, vermin and insects (ontario.ca/laws) · Last checked Oct 2026

This page covers units under the RTA; if your renter shares your kitchen or bathroom and you live there, see renting rooms in your home. Your city's property standards by-law applies where there is one; the provincial standards in O. Reg. 517/06 apply where there isn't, and in some prescribed cases (RTA s. 224(1)). Check your own municipality's by-law too.

Who does what

Situation	What the law says	Source
Mice, bed bugs, cockroaches or other pests in the unit or building	The complex must be kept reasonably free of rodents, vermin and insects. That is part of your maintenance duty.	O. Reg. 517/06, s. 46(1); RTA s. 20(1)
How you treat them	Extermination methods must follow applicable municipal or provincial law.	O. Reg. 517/06, s. 46(2)
Gaps and holes where pests get in	Openings and holes in a building with rental units must be screened or sealed to keep out rodents, vermin, insects and other pests.	O. Reg. 517/06, s. 46(3)
Walls, foundation and roof	Must be maintained to reasonably protect against deterioration, including from rodents, vermin or insects.	O. Reg. 517/06, s. 6(1)
Entering for the exterminator or an inspection	Written notice at least 24 hours before, stating the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.	RTA s. 27(1) paras 1 and 4, s. 27(3)
Keeping the unit clean	The tenant is responsible for ordinary cleanliness of the unit, unless the lease makes you responsible for cleaning.	RTA s. 33
Getting the cost back from the tenant	Only on an L2 order, and only if the tenant, an occupant or a guest wilfully or negligently caused undue damage.	RTA ss. 34, 89(1)
Tenant doesn't report it, then applies on a T6	In deciding the remedy, the LTB must consider whether the tenant told you about the problem before applying.	RTA s. 30(2)

We haven't reviewed LTB case law on when bringing in pests counts as negligent conduct, so don't assume a tenant will be ordered to pay just because the problem started in their unit.

Worked example

Example dates only. A tenant texts you on Monday, November 2, 2026 that they've seen mice in the kitchen.

Same day: reply in writing with the date you'll have a pest control company come. Book one that follows the applicable law (O. Reg. 517/06, s. 46(2)).
Entry notice: on Monday, November 2, give written notice for Wednesday, November 4, 2026, stating the reason (pest treatment), the day and a time window between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. That is more than the 24 hours s. 27 requires.
After the visit: ask the company to seal entry holes or tell you what needs sealing (s. 46(3)), and keep their report and invoice.
Follow-up visits: give a fresh written notice for each one.

Where the toolkit helps: The toolkit's LTB-Ready Evidence Pack keeps a communication log with the date, time, who, method and what was said or done, so pest reports, entry notices and treatment visits are all written down. See what is inside the $19 toolkit

If the tenant won't let the exterminator in

Give written entry notice anyway; s. 27 lets you enter with proper notice to do work in the unit. Keep the dated notices and the company's notes about missed visits. If the tenant's conduct substantially interferes with your lawful right or interest, or with another tenant's reasonable enjoyment, an N5 under s. 64 may be an option. The N5 must give the tenant 7 days to correct it and is void if they do (s. 64(2)-(3)). See how the N5 works.

Mistakes to avoid

Waiting to see if it goes away. A tenant's T6 can lead to a rent abatement or an order to do the work (RTA s. 30(1)), and a serious breach of your duties means the LTB must refuse to evict (s. 83(3)(a)).
Taking the cost out of the rent deposit. The LTB guide says the rent deposit can only be used as rent for the last month or week, not for damage. To make the tenant pay, apply on an L2 and prove wilful or negligent conduct (s. 89(1)).
Entering without written notice for a scheduled treatment (see landlord entry notice).
Treating only one unit when the problem is building-wide. The duty is to keep the residential complex reasonably free of pests (s. 46(1)).

For appliances, heat and other repairs, see landlord repair responsibilities.

Official sources

Not legal advice. This site is general information written by a small Ontario landlord, based on official Ontario and Tribunals Ontario sources as of October 25, 2026. Laws and LTB forms change; check the linked official source before you act, and talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal (or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234) about your situation. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board. Full disclaimer.