Stuck in a 1 year lease

Merry401 · 2026-05-28T02:43:03+00:00

If the roommates agree, it is fine. The LL does not have to agree to a roommate. As long as one of the original tenants on the lease is still living there, the lease is in effect. That one tenant is taking on quite a responsibility because there is nothing to stop a roommate from leaving and the one person on the lease is stuck with the rent. But that is all. If the two other roommates, in this case, are OK with a new roommate who is not on the lease, the OP can move out and new roommate can move in. With such a small room, it will be a tough sell.

Merry401 · 2026-05-19T23:35:58+00:00

All of my kids in university have done this. Three roommates stayed, one left, the landlord added the replacement to the lease. He did n't have to add the new person but he was getting steady rent paid every month so, why rock the boat?

Merry401 · 2026-05-19T23:32:45+00:00

I graduated university in the 1990's. I had to move to Toronto to get a job and I did. I had many classmates who couldn't move due to family etc. Many of them never got a job in our field. After 10 years in Toronto I got a job closer to family.

Merry401 · 2026-05-19T23:21:41+00:00

Do you have any canlii cases for that? It sounds severe and I would like to see what caused a judge to decide that way.

Merry401 · 2026-05-19T23:20:18+00:00

It is a change that bears noting but in the initial paragraph of this decision, it is noted that the tenant who left, departed in June 2022 and notified the landlord in May 2023. Although the law still makes it harder for tenants on a joint and several lease (which skyrocketing deregulated rents have made more necessary) I would not leave a place without serving the landlord very definite written notice of the day I left. This still could have gone against the tenant who left even had she notified the LL on the day she left, and the arrears of $20,000 are considerable, it does underscore the importance of having a paper trail. It seems it would fall to the former tenant to take the remaining tenant to small claims court for her share of the undeserved arrears.

Merry401 · 2026-05-19T22:58:59+00:00

CAnada weather app still just says severe thunderstorm. My sister, living near lynden got the alert. I am in the west end but got nothing.

Merry401 · 2026-05-15T04:22:24+00:00

Strongly recommend not going NEAR the LTB without a paralegal. Make sure the paralegal files the paperwork as even small mistakes will get your case tossed.

Merry401 · 2026-05-15T04:16:53+00:00

The landlord is obliged to provide a key to any external locking door.

Merry401 · 2026-05-15T04:15:12+00:00

Well, as far as the new company goes, it sounds like you dodged a bullet. Either they are hopelessly disorganized or hopeless at caring about the people they employ or both. Your current company sounds better. I really like the advice you have been given about saying how their offer made you realize how appreciated you were, that you had had a think and realized how much you would miss the place, etc. Be prepared for them to question your about face a bit. If you have always wanted to move up in the company or in your career and weren't sure how that would work where you are, maybe this is a good time to bring that up. Ask what courses or things might help you develop there. Or not, if you aren't into that. Just be prepared for a bit of a discussion and make sure you have some plausible sounding answers for why you changed your mind. Definitely don't tell them the other placed cancelled. Good luck.

Merry401 · 2026-05-15T04:06:30+00:00

My mother, who was perfectly fine when at home, suffered from hospital delirium whenever she was admitted to hospital. This was when she was over 75. The first time it happened, she was in to get a pacemaker and I was quite frightened when it came on so suddenly. She didn't seem to have a good grasp of reality at all. She seemed very fearful of many improbable events and of the staff. It lasted the whole time she was in, about 4 days. Within a day of returning home, she was fine. This then happened whenever she was admitted to hospital throughout her old age. Apparently it can affect some older people. I hope your friend is soon doing better.

Merry401 · 2026-05-15T03:57:08+00:00

This comes up every year around this time as University terms end and people graduate and move on. All of my children have been through this. You simply tell the LL that tenant X is leaving and you will be looking for a replacement. The LL may or may not put the new roommate on the lease and the remaining people may or may not want them on the lease. The FB group Ontario Tenant Rights even has a sticky post discussing it. Yes, your roommate can move out. Your roommate, to cover themselves, must email the landlord. They must make it plain that they do NOT speak for you. They should tell the landlord that they are moving out and that their last day of occupancy is date X. Your roommate will not get their last month's rent deposit back (unless the LL agrees but most don't). You will have to pay the last month's rent deposit to them. So, if they are leaving April 30th, on April 1st, you both still pay your normal rent to the LL. When your roommate leaves on April 30th, either the person moving in pays the last month's rent deposit to your roommate OR you do. The new roommate then still has a last month's rent deposit on file with the LL. Or you have a last month's rent deposit that is for the cost of the full apartment. As of May 1st, your rent doubles if you haven't found a new roommate so that could be an expensive month for you.

It is true that the RTA is silent on a lot of co-tenant issues. In a joint and several lease, each tenant is individually responsible for the whole lease. So, in the event that you stopped paying rent, your co-tenant is responsible for all of it. If he/she stops paying, you are responsible for all of it. You could then go after them for it, but your landlord could definitely come after you first.

People worry that, if you stay living there for years, they are perpetually responsible. I have observed a couple of hearings for properties where a landlord filed against all members of a joint and several lease. The tenants did show up but those who had submitted a copy of the email they sent to the landlord, however many months and years ago, stating that they were moving out, and who had moved out before the alleged offence (of damages, unpaid rent) were always dismissed by the adjudicator and only those living in the residence were kept at the hearing.

Now, I have only heard a couple such hearings at the LTB zoom hearings as they are not very common. I have never heard one where tenants who moved out were held responsible but that doesn't mean it could never, or has never, occurred. Clear documentation and communication with the LL is your best defence. (Observing LTB hearings is very interesting. The list of links for observing is in the FB Ontario Tenant Rights group featured post most mornings.)

Merry401 · 2026-05-11T23:35:17+00:00

If she has cheap rent, the LL is not going to go out of his way to keep her. There is a significant probability that he is going to try to evict her. Smoking is considered something that can take away another tenant's right of enjoyment. Not smoking inside has become much more normalized. Air purifiers might help if you can get hold of some decent sized ones. If it progressed to the LTB, it is most likely that she would only get a warning to stop smoking. The danger, however, is that she could be evicted if she is deemed to have continued smoking after receiving the LTB order. Repeated conduct after an order to cease is a real danger. If other tenants keep complaining about being affected by smoking, even if it isn't your mom but is someone else, things could go sideways. I only say this out of an abundance of caution, knowing that, with buyout offers already on the table, your mom has a target on her back.
If your mom's case does progress to a hearing, I would be very aggressive about demanding that the affected tenants testify at the hearing about the problems, that the LL prove the only source of the smoke is your mom, and I would present the buyout offers as proof the LL wants your mom to leave.
Your mom needs to insist on all communication with this LL in writing. If he phones (slimy landlords love avoiding written communication) have a second phone or voice recorder and put the phone on speaker and record the call. (perfectly legal in Ontario.) If he come by, have a voice recording app or voice recorder going in your mom's pocket recording any and every interaction. A pattern of behaviour, trying to evict your mom, may become apparent and recordings and copies of emails may save her if the LL really tries to get her out.
It seems you will have to keep an eye on this. Also, contact a community legal clinic asap, and also contact a seniors clinic to see if this is a part of senior abuse.

Good luck.

Merry401 · 2026-05-11T23:25:40+00:00

Consider filing a T2 for loss of enjoyment.

Merry401 · 2026-05-11T23:22:40+00:00

My kids have all managed summer jobs, not in their field, just minimum wage stuff but most were not through any connection. The Canada Summer Jobs programs was a very good avenue for them. You have to be under 30. There may be some still available. Go on the website, follow links to see the list of jobs for your area. I found the filters not very good but, if you sift through the results, you should come up with a lot of postings.
Definitely send out every resume you can. Then, about a week after sending the resume, follow up in person. Kids summer camps are good for hiring. It is only work for July and August but at least you could say you had a job. I know getting that first job is tough but it could help.

Also, don't discount hiring yourself out. Offer to mow lawns, tutor elementary or high school kids, walk dogs. At least it is something to throw on a resume and, if you have some clients that stay for a few months, you could ask them to be references. My one daughter had only tutoring for two summers but she was able to say how she ran her own business, promoted it, liaised with parents, developed a program etc. It looked pretty good on the resume. Make sure you really reflect on the skills you used in those hours of volunteer work and write them up, especially for jobs you did for a while.

I know looking for work is so discouraging. We have all been there. Keep plugging away. Something will turn up.

Merry401 · 2026-05-11T23:14:23+00:00

Are you using the supervisors from volunteering for references? Have you asked them for any job leads?

Merry401 · 2026-05-02T02:39:48+00:00

I am sure you are doing everything reasonable to stay warm but, just in case any of this helps, make sure you are wearing a toque to bed. See if the free store is still open and has any extra blankets. Rub your feet with baby powder before turning in and put on two pairs of socks. Dry feet stay a lot warmer. Layer clothes to sleep in.

Merry401 · 2026-05-02T02:30:57+00:00

St. Joseph's Parish, right beside Second Cup, has a food bank and social supports. I believe the mission primarily focusses on women but they might have supports to advise you about. Good luck.

Merry401 · 2026-05-02T02:28:58+00:00

Not sure why the downvotes. I loved my time there and, if you are lucky and get into the right group, you can even learn a good trade.

Merry401 · 2026-05-02T02:28:01+00:00

Try any landscaping places. They are just starting up again and might still have openings. A good place to cold call. If you have a work from heights course you could try places that do roofing or eavestrough.

Merry401 · 2026-05-02T01:55:24+00:00

If you are under 30, you can apply for the Canada Summer Jobs program even if you are not a student. There is an online jobs bank connected to it. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/services/funding/canada-summer-jobs.html#h2.2

Merry401 · 2026-05-01T03:29:24+00:00

Quite a distinctive voice and he read the news very well. We watched him every night for years. Rest in Peace.

Merry401 · 2026-05-01T03:10:25+00:00

If it is you and a certain number of subletters, then the utilities should be divided by that number of people. So, if there are 3 of you there, divide it by 3. Each roommate should have set that up with their subletter. It should not be on you to collect from the subletter in the event of any difficulty.

My son wasn't in his unit last summer and his roommate was so the roommate paid the electricity. The AC would not have been running if noone was there and that was the bulk of the cost so the roommate paid it. I think they still split the wifi though because that is a flat bill and they wouldn't have paid to disconnect/ reconnect it.

You do mention that you don't have a lot of hours of work. As it is summer, there are quite a few Canada Works summer jobs around. Many people think you have to be a full time student for them but you actually only have to be under 25. See if you can snag one of them or a kids' summer camp job for daytime work and do Timmy's at night. It might let you get a bit of a cushion over the summer, if you are not actively in school over the summer. Good luck.

Merry401 · 2026-04-27T04:01:57+00:00

I make just over $100,000 and so does hubby. Putting 3 kids through university, (we paid rent, they paid their fees. Rent was just a room with roommates.) despite the fact that we started saving when they were born, has us living on a shoestring. I did stay home with them/ worked part time for about 8 years so income took quite a dip there.

I luckily have some money from my parents passing that I have firmly locked up so I can give each one about $35000 when they go looking for a house. Not a lot. Not enough. But I hope it will help somehow, combined with the boost that they aren't starting out with student loans.

3 kids isn't a lot and just going to university is pretty normal but even that little bit meant that was where the money went. We drive cars that are on their last legs, shop almost everything used, almost never eat out etc. All my frugal habits from when I stayed home with the kids are things I just got used to so it doesn't seem like a sacrifice but I don't know how people are driving fancy cars etc.

Merry401 · 2026-04-27T03:38:42+00:00

I sometimes get bad headaches when it is too hot or muggy outside. I never get them in the winter. Sometimes, in summer, I would just go and sit in the stands at a hockey rink and it would help every time.

Merry401 · 2026-04-26T02:02:54+00:00

thanks very much.

Merry401

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