Lampropoulos v Sharma

Tenant wins · Toronto · 2025-11-19

Adjudicator

Anthony Bruno

Dispute

Damage to Property, Maintenance, Tenant Rights

Notice

Notice of Termination (N7)

Amount

<$5K

Landlord

C.L.

Tenant

Y.S., B.W., D.L.

What happened

The Landlord applied to terminate the tenancy and for compensation, alleging the Tenants tampered with the thermostat in a shared hallway, causing excessive gas bills and damage. The Landlord also sought reimbursement for municipal fines and cleaning costs. The Tenants denied tampering, asserting the thermostat was in a public area and that the heating issues were due to poor maintenance. They claimed the eviction notice was retaliatory after they contacted the City regarding a lack of heat and mice infestation. All three tenants had vacated the premises by May 2025.

The ruling

The Landlord's application to terminate the tenancy and for compensation is dismissed. The Landlord failed to prove that the Tenants were responsible for thermostat tampering or excessive utility costs. The Landlord is ordered to return key deposits to the Tenants: $300.00 to Tenant 3, $500.00 to Tenant 1, and $500.00 to Tenant 2, by November 30, 2025, plus interest if not paid on time.