Make a Landlord Damage Fund claim

Tenant

Must be/or were supported through the Housing First program.

Damage

Eligibility is limited to significant damages that are clearly beyond normal wear and tear, like painting, minor drywall repairs, general cleaning, etc. Damages to the building/property/ unit or its fixtures must be extreme, excessive, abusive or unnatural, caused by the wilful, neglectful, or careless actions of the tenant, their guests, or invitees, and unrelated to the fixture’s intended use.

Required documents

• Move-in, Move-out Checklist
• Landlord Damage Claim Form

Photographs

Detailed photographs of all damages being claimed. Landlords are asked to provide at least one photograph of each damaged item. They should easily identify the damage and correspond to the claim.

Estimate requirements

Estimates must include a list of items being repaired or replaced and their cost. The number of estimates required for a Landlord Damage Claim is based on the total estimated cost of a claim.

There may be exceptions to the required number of estimates to be submitted when a landlord has the capacity to complete the work internally at fair market value. In these cases, written approval would be required from the City, prior to any repairs being completed.

• If the work is being done by the landlord, the landlord must provide a typed or clearly hand-written invoice specifying the number of hours of labour, and the hourly rate for the labour.
• For items that would be purchased, and for work being done by a contractor, written quotation(s) and/or invoice(s) (typed or clearly hand-written) from a contractor and/or builders’ supply store must be provided.

Landlord damage claims should be initiated with the City of Ottawa within 28 days of the landlord becoming aware of the damage or the tenant’s move-out date, whichever occurs first.

To request a copy of the Landlord Damage Claim Form and/or Move-in, Move-out Checklist please email LDCSubmissions@ottawa.ca. Please work with the Housing Specialist / Housing Based Case Manager to finalize a claim submission before submitting your claim to the City. Damage claims must be submitted by email, to the City, as indicated on the Landlord Damage Claim Form.

Once submitted Housing and Homelessness Services staff will review your claim to confirm eligibility. To do so they may ask for additional details or documentation. You will be notified if your claim is approved, do not initiate repairs until you receive confirmation.

Once approved repairs are completed, receipts verifying that all expenses have been paid for and showing the vendor’s HST number (if available) must be submitted. Detailed photos of all repairs are also required before reimbursement is made by the City.

For more information please email LDCSubmissions@ottawa.ca.