Strathroy sits about 35 kilometres west of London on the Highway 402 corridor. It's a small city — population around 25,000 in the Township of Strathroy-Caradoc — with a mix of single-family homes, duplexes, and basement apartments. If you're renting a property here, the rules are different from London in one important way: there is no rental housing licensing program.
That's the good news. The other news is that everything else still applies — the Residential Tenancies Act, Ontario Building Code, Fire Code, and the Township's own property standards bylaw. This guide covers what Strathroy-Caradoc landlords need to know, and where landlords here typically go wrong.
No Rental Housing Licence Required in Strathroy
London requires landlords to hold a Rental Housing Licence. St. Thomas has no such program. Strathroy-Caradoc is the same as St. Thomas — no rental unit licence, no annual licensing fee, no licence-triggered inspection cycle.
That does not mean you can operate without scrutiny. The Township enforces a property standards bylaw on all residential properties. If a tenant, neighbour, or city inspector files a complaint, a Property Standards Officer can inspect your unit whether you have a licence or not.
The practical difference from London: you don't have a mandated annual renewal window forcing periodic inspections. But you still have to keep the unit in good repair under both the bylaw and the RTA.
The RTA Still Applies — Fully
The Residential Tenancies Act applies to every residential rental unit in Ontario, including Strathroy-Caradoc. The rules for rent increases, entry notice, eviction, lease agreements, deposits, and the Landlord and Tenant Board are identical whether you're renting a unit in Toronto, London, or a semi-detached on Frank Street in Strathroy.
Key reminders:
- One month's rent maximum for a last-month rent deposit. No security deposit for damage.
- 24 hours' written notice required before entering a unit, except in emergencies.
- Rent increase guideline applies if your unit was first occupied before November 15, 2018. The 2026 guideline is 2.5%. Units first occupied after that date are exempt from rent control.
- Eviction through the LTB only. You cannot lock a tenant out, remove their belongings, or shut off utilities to force them to leave.
- Standard lease required for any new tenancy in a private residential unit.
The LTB regional office that handles Middlesex County — including Strathroy-Caradoc — is the London office. Hearings are primarily conducted by video. The timeline from filing an L1 (eviction for non-payment) to a Sheriff-enforced eviction is typically 3 to 6 months in this region.
Township of Strathroy-Caradoc Property Standards
The Township of Strathroy-Caradoc maintains a property standards bylaw that sets minimum conditions for all residential properties. The bylaw enforcement team responds to complaints and conducts inspections when a deficiency is reported.
Here is what the bylaw covers:
Structural condition Walls, floors, ceilings, roofs, and foundations must be structurally sound, weathertight, and free from holes or significant deterioration. Exterior cladding must prevent water infiltration.
Heating The unit must maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 20°C from September 1 to June 15. If the heating system fails, this is a high-priority deficiency — tenants can apply to the LTB under RTA Section 20, and a T6 application for maintenance can run parallel to the property standards process.
Plumbing and hot water Hot and cold running water must be available. Hot water must reach at least 43°C at the tap. The unit must have a functioning toilet, sink, and bath or shower. Sewage must discharge to the municipal system or an approved septic system.
Electrical All electrical systems must be maintained in a safe condition. No exposed wiring, overloaded circuits, or non-functioning outlets at key fixtures.
Ventilation Bedrooms and habitable rooms must have adequate ventilation. Bathroom exhaust must vent to the exterior, not into a wall cavity or attic space.
Pest control The unit and the building must be kept free of rodents, insects, and other pests. If there is an active infestation, the landlord is responsible for extermination under both the bylaw and RTA Section 20. See pest control obligations for Ontario landlords for what that means in practice.
Exterior and yards Yards, driveways, and exterior stairs must be kept clear, safe, and free from accumulation of garbage or debris.
How Enforcement Works
Strathroy-Caradoc uses a complaint-driven enforcement model. The Township does not schedule routine inspections of rental properties the way London does during the licensing renewal cycle. An inspection is triggered when:
- A tenant files a complaint with the municipality
- A neighbour files a complaint
- The fire department identifies a concern during a call
- The building is flagged during a permit or related inspection
If an Officer inspects and finds deficiencies, they issue an Order to Comply. The order sets a deadline — typically 30 to 90 days depending on severity. Emergency deficiencies like no heat in winter or no running water get much shorter timelines.
If you do not correct the deficiency by the deadline, the Township can:
- Issue fines of up to $25,000 per offence for individual landlords
- Enter the property and carry out the work themselves, then bill you for the cost
- Lay charges under the Ontario Building Code Act
Responding to Orders to Comply promptly matters for another reason: if a tenant files a T6 application at the LTB for maintenance issues, an outstanding property standards order is strong evidence in their favour. Judges at the LTB regularly award rent abatements of 10–30% for verified maintenance failures. For more on your maintenance obligations under RTA Section 20, that post covers the full framework.
Second Units and Basement Apartments in Strathroy
Many Strathroy landlords rent a basement apartment or second unit in a house they own. There is no second-unit registration program in Strathroy-Caradoc, unlike London's second-unit registration process. But that doesn't mean you can build or rent one without complying with other rules.
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Zoning Second units — basement apartments, garden suites, above-garage suites — are permitted in all single-detached, semi-detached, and rowhouse zones under the province's Additional Residential Units policy. The Township of Strathroy-Caradoc's zoning bylaw must permit second units in residential zones. Check with the Township's planning department if you are unsure whether your specific property or zone allows it.
Building permit Any structural work to create or legalize a second unit requires a building permit from Strathroy-Caradoc. Renovations done without a permit create significant risk: they may not comply with the Ontario Building Code, they can void your property insurance, and they can expose you to an Order to Demolish.
Fire Code requirements A second unit in a residential building triggers specific Ontario Fire Code requirements regardless of whether you pull a permit. These include:
- Interconnected smoke alarms on every floor and outside every sleeping area
- Carbon monoxide detectors adjacent to all sleeping areas
- Minimum ceiling heights (1.95m / 6'5")
- Egress windows in basement bedrooms meeting minimum opening dimensions
- Fire separation between the units (typically 30-minute rated assembly)
A fire in an unpermitted, non-compliant second unit can void your insurance entirely. See fire safety obligations for Ontario landlords for the complete compliance checklist.
No registration certificate needed In Strathroy-Caradoc, you don't receive a "registration certificate" for a second unit the way you would in London. But you still need the permit, the required inspections (framing, electrical, insulation, final), and a certificate of occupancy from the Township before a tenant moves in.
How the LTB Process Works for Strathroy Landlords
If you need to start an eviction, serve a notice to end the tenancy, or recover rent arrears, the process is the same as anywhere in Ontario.
For non-payment of rent:
- Serve an N4 notice with the correct arrears amount
- Wait 14 days (month-to-month) or the termination date on the notice
- File an L1 application at the LTB if the tenant does not pay or vacate
- Attend the hearing (typically by video from the London regional office)
- Enforce any eviction order through the Middlesex County Sheriff
Timeline: In the London/Middlesex area, expect 8–14 weeks from filing to a hearing date, and 4–8 additional weeks if you need Sheriff enforcement. Total: 3–6 months is realistic for a contested file.
Document everything. A strong eviction application includes a complete rent ledger, all notices with proof of service, the lease, and dated photographs or repair records. For record-keeping standards, see what Ontario landlords need to document and keep.
Common Mistakes for Strathroy-Caradoc Landlords
Assuming no licence means no rules. No rental housing licence does not mean no oversight. The RTA applies in full, and the property standards bylaw applies to every unit.
Not getting a building permit for basement apartments. A permit is required. An unpermitted unit is a legal and financial liability.
Serving notice incorrectly. An N4 served with the wrong arrears amount or to the wrong person is void. A void notice means starting over and losing weeks. Personal service or leaving it in the mailbox on the right date matters.
Entering without notice. RTA Section 27 requires 24 hours' written notice before entry, except in emergencies. Entering without notice — even to do a repair — gives the tenant grounds for a T2 application.
Ignoring maintenance complaints in writing. A text from a tenant about a water leak is a maintenance request. If you ignore it and the tenant files a T6, that text is evidence. Respond, document, and repair.
FAQ
Does Strathroy-Caradoc require a rental housing licence? No. The Township of Strathroy-Caradoc does not have a rental housing licensing program. London does. Strathroy and St. Thomas do not.
Who handles property standards complaints in Strathroy? The Township of Strathroy-Caradoc's bylaw enforcement team handles property standards complaints. Contact the Township directly if you want to proactively confirm compliance or respond to an order.
What is the LTB process like for Middlesex County? Hearings for properties in Middlesex County — including Strathroy-Caradoc — are handled by the London Regional LTB office. Most hearings are conducted by video. The LTB hearing preparation guide covers what to prepare.
Do I need a building permit to rent out my basement in Strathroy? Yes. If any structural work was done to create the second unit, a building permit is required under the Ontario Building Code. This applies regardless of whether the Township has a registration program.
What temperature must I heat the unit to in winter? At least 20°C from September 1 to June 15, measured in the unit. This is a property standards minimum. A failure to heat is both a bylaw violation and a breach of your RTA Section 20 obligations.
Can a Strathroy tenant withhold rent if I don't make repairs? Tenants cannot legally withhold rent under Ontario law. But they can file a T6 application at the LTB and seek a rent abatement. If maintenance is the issue, fix it and document the fix. See your maintenance obligations under the RTA for detail.
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Renting in Strathroy-Caradoc? There's no rental housing licence required — unlike London. But the RTA, property standards bylaw, Fire Code, and Building Code all still apply in full. Here's what small landlords in Strathroy need to know before a tenant moves in. 📋 [Link in bio]
Prospera Properties manages rentals for small landlords in Strathroy, St. Thomas, and London — handling compliance, tenant relations, and maintenance coordination so you don't have to track it all yourself. If you're tired of managing the paperwork solo, talk to our team.