Request a rent reduction for decreased housing services

A tenant may petition the Rent Board for a reduction in rent if the landlord has substantially decreased a housing service without reducing the tenant's rent.

A housing service is a service provided by the landlord related to the use or occupancy of a rental unit. This includes:

• Repairs and maintenance
• Parking
• Storage
• Subletting

Find out more about "Housing Services". 

Instructions

• Pages 1-2: We will need:
  • Information about your rental unit
  • Contact information for yourself and the following (if applicable):
    • Your lawyer or representative
    • The building owner
    • The property manager or management company
    • Your landlord's lawyer or representative
• Page 3: Check Box "A" 
• Page 3: Sign and date the declaration
• Page 4: Read the instructions for Form A
• Page 5: On Form A, list the housing services that your landlord has removed or substantially reduced.

Describe your decreased housing services

For each housing service, describe:

• When was the housing service decreased or not provided
• When was the landlord notified of the decreased housing service
• Whether your landlord has restored the housing service
• How much you believe your rent should be reduced, per month, for the loss of housing service

Email your form and any supporting evidence to:

• Once a petition is determined to be complete, the Rent Board sends a copy of the petition to the landlord and any other parties named in the petition

• Usually within a few months after the petition is filed, it will be scheduled for a mediation session on Monday-Friday at 9:00 AM or 1:30 PM (a Notice of Mediation is sent out to all parties at least 10 days before the mediation)

• Occasionally, the parties are unable to reach agreement after participating in a mediation session. In that case, an arbitration hearing may be held that same day or rescheduled for a future date (usually within several months)

• If your case requires a formal arbitration hearing, you must present evidence proving that your landlord has reduced or removed a housing service that was included in your rent.