Understanding the Landlord and Tenant Board's Information Form for Suite Meters in Ontario
If you're a prospective tenant in Ontario considering renting a unit with an installed suite meter or individual electricity meter, the Landlord and Tenant Board requires your landlord to provide specific information about the electricity usage and energy efficiency of appliances in the rental unit. This document ensures transparency regarding utility costs and energy features before you sign a lease agreement.
Purpose and Use of the Form
This official form is designed to inform prospective tenants about the electricity consumption in the rental unit, especially when the landlord intends for tenants to pay their own electricity bills. It also covers details about appliances such as refrigerators, which can impact energy costs. The form must be completed by the landlord and provided to you prior to entering into a tenancy agreement.
By reviewing this information, tenants can make informed decisions about their potential utility expenses and energy efficiency features of the rental unit. It also helps prevent disputes related to utility billing and energy costs during tenancy.
Key Sections and How to Fill Them
1. Basic Property and Contact Details
- Address of Rental Unit: The exact address where you plan to rent.
- Prospective Tenant’s Name: Your full name.
- Landlord’s Name: The name of the property owner or managing agent.
2. Electricity Usage Information
This section requires the landlord to provide the most recent data on electricity consumption over the past 12 months. If the suite meter was installed less than a year ago, the data should cover from the installation date to the present.
- Period: The start and end dates (dd/mm/yyyy) of the data reporting period.
- Electricity Consumption (kWh): The total kilowatt-hours used during that period.
- Vacancy Status: Indicate whether the unit was vacant during this period, including specific dates if applicable.
3. Refrigerator and Appliance Details
Information about appliances, particularly refrigerators, is also required:
- Refrigerator in the Rental Unit: Whether the landlord provides a refrigerator or not.
- Manufacture Date: When the refrigerator was manufactured.
- Energy Efficiency: Any available details about the refrigerator’s energy performance.
Important Legal and Procedural Notes
This form must be completed and handed over to you before you sign the tenancy agreement. It is a legal requirement to ensure transparency about utility costs and appliance energy efficiency, helping you assess potential expenses and energy consumption.
If you have questions about this form or your rights as a tenant, you can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board. They offer assistance via phone at 416-645-8080 or toll-free at 1-888-332-3234. Additional resources and information are available on their website at tribunalsontario.ca/ltb.
Fill in your form directly online
No printing: type your details into the boxes of the official form, tick, then download the PDF ready to send.
- 1Type into the form boxes
- 2Tick in one click
- 3Save and download the PDF
After Submission
Once the landlord completes this form, it should be signed by the landlord or their authorized representative, including their name, contact details, and date of signing. Keep a copy for your records. This documentation helps protect your rights and provides clarity on utility costs and energy features before you commit to the tenancy.
Summary
In summary, this official Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board form is an essential part of the rental process when suite meters are installed. It provides prospective tenants with vital information about electricity usage, vacancy periods, and appliances, fostering transparency and informed decision-making. As a tenant, reviewing this document before signing your lease ensures you are aware of potential utility costs and energy efficiency features in your new home.