Statutory Supremacy

Can a Landlord and Tenant Legally Agree to Waive Rights or Duties That Are Statutorily Prescribed?

Terms Within A Lease or Other Form of Agreement That Are Inconsistent With the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 Are Void and Unenforceable.

Understanding the Supremacy of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 As Applicable Regardless of Agreed Lease Terms

A landlord and tenant may agree to waive rights or duties that are prescribed within the statute law; however, with only rare exceptions, the statutory rights and duties are unalterable and any terms purporting to waive such rights or duties, whether within a lease or other form of agreement, are void.

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The Law

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, Chapter 17, forbids lease terms or any other form of agreement from altering the rights and duties prescribed within the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.  Specifically, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, states:

Many court cases as well as decisions of the Landlord Tenant Board will confirm that any attempt to contractually alter the provisions prescribed within the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, or regulations thereto, is void.  The case of White et al. v. Upper Thames River Conservation Authority, 2020 ONSC 7822, clearly states so whereas it is said:

Summary Comment

Terms within a lease, or another form of agreement, that purport to alter or forgo the statutory rights and duties as prescribed within the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, and regulations thereto, are void with only a few very rare exceptions.