Toronto Renters Forum

Real Estate Lawyers aren't really what this Forum was created to discuss, although tenant friendly lawyers who might be of help to those facing hearings at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) are.

That said, it's very difficult to find a good lawyer for tenant issues.  Legal representatives cannot expect to be paid very much by the majority of tenants hauled before the LTB who tend to have low incomes.  So the lawyers and paralegals who (reasonably enough) want to be paid more usually end-up representing the landlords.

There are terrific lawyers and paralegals* out there who will take-on tenants' cases, but they are somewhat difficult to find.  Sometimes you can find one by consulting your local Community Legal Education Office and asking whether they have a list of lawyers or paralegals that they can supply you.

(* Also note that paralegals are often the way to go at the LTB, because some paralegals have more experience representing tenants there than most lawyers do.  Lawyers generally focus on higher-levels of the law (criminal law, provincial court, etc.) than mere "social tribunals" like the LTB.  Also lawyers tend to be more expensive, meaning that they get hired less frequently by tenants at the LTB, and thus may have less experience at the LTB than more affordable paralegals do.)

Here are some links regarding CLEO (community legal education offices) that maybe helpful:

• https://www.cleo.on.ca/en/publications/ontario

• https://www.legalaid.on.ca/services/legal-clinics/