Why Ontario Expertise Matters in Yardi Implementation: Navigating the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) with Confidence

The RTA governs the relationship between landlords and tenants in Ontario, defining their rights and obligations. It covers rent increases, evictions, lease agreements, property maintenance, and dispute resolution. Non-compliance with the RTA can lead to legal complications, tenant disputes, and financial penalties.

However, the RTA is not static. It evolves to reflect societal changes, and property managers must keep up with them to avoid falling behind in compliance. This makes the role of a local Yardi consultant who understands Ontario’s software and legal framework even more critical.

When properly implemented, Yardi’s platform allows property managers to automate lease management, rent collection, maintenance tracking, and tenant communication processes. However, without local expertise, it’s easy to misconfigure critical aspects that the RTA governs, such as:

-  Rent Increases: The RTA imposes strict guidelines on rent increases, including when and how much rent can be raised. These rules must be reflected in Yardi’s rent escalation schedules to avoid overcharging tenants.

-  Eviction Processes: Evictions in Ontario are highly regulated, and landlords must follow specific protocols under the RTA. Yardi can only automate and document these processes if configured to adhere to Ontario’s regulations.

-  Maintenance Requests: The RTA requires landlords to maintain their properties well. With Yardi, property managers can easily track and prioritize maintenance requests but must be aware of response timelines required under Ontario law.

-  Security Deposits and Rent Payment: While some provinces allow landlords to collect security deposits, Ontario’s RTA does not. Yardi must be set up to reflect this distinction to avoid confusion and disputes.

The RTA isn’t static—it keeps changing. For example, recent amendments have introduced rent freezes and new regulations around eviction processes during the pandemic. A consultant who knows the local market can ensure your Yardi system is constantly updated to stay compliant with the latest rules.

Here are some fundamental rules and recent changes in Ontario’s RTA that a Yardi consultant with Ontario expertise would understand:

-  Rent Control: Ontario has strict rent control laws, limiting how much a landlord can increase rent annually. Yardi must be configured to track and notify when rent increases are due and whether they comply with provincial guidelines.

-  Notice Periods for Eviction: The amount of notice a landlord must give before evicting a tenant depends on the reason for eviction. Yardi can automate this, but the rules vary, so the software needs to be set up according to Ontario’s legal requirements.

-  Landlord's Responsibility for Repairs: The RTA mandates that landlords maintain properties in livable condition. Yardi’s maintenance request module can be customized to ensure repairs are tracked and completed within the legally required timeframe.

-  Rent Arrears Payment Plans: During certain situations, like the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario introduced temporary laws requiring landlords to offer tenants payment plans for rent arrears before proceeding with eviction. A Yardi consultant with local knowledge would ensure that these exceptional circumstances are reflected in the system.