LTB applications, evictions, rent disputes, maintenance and repair. Get a lawyer who knows the local board and the local landlord market.
N4, N5, N12, N13 notices. LTB hearings, mediation, payment plans, set asides.
L1, L2, L3 applications. Rent arrears, termination, possession orders, costs.
Section 20 obligations, T2 and T6 applications, work orders, rent abatement.
AGI applications, capital expenditures, security and utilities, tenant responses.
T2 applications, statutory notice, damages, injunctive relief.
Commercial leases are not subject to the RTA, instead governed by the Commercial Tenancies Act. Different rules entirely.
Condominium Act, co-op corporation rules, status certificates, common element disputes.
Municipal bylaws, condo prohibitions, eviction grounds related to Airbnb use.
Residential tenancies in Ontario are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act and adjudicated by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Tenancies do not end except through proper notice (specific forms with specific timing) or mutual agreement. Even after a notice, the landlord cannot evict without an LTB order. Self-help eviction (changing locks, removing belongings, cutting utilities) is illegal and exposes the landlord to substantial damages.
N4 for rent arrears, N5 for serious interference or damage, N7 for serious impairment of safety, N8 for persistent late payment, N12 for landlord or buyer own use, N13 for demolition or major renovation. Each carries its own timing and termination dates. Defective notices are voided. Many tenants successfully defend eviction applications on notice defects alone.
Beyond the annual provincial guideline, landlords can apply for an above guideline increase (AGI) for eligible capital expenditures, security services, or municipal taxes. AGIs are scrutinised carefully. Tenants can challenge the scope, necessity, and reasonableness of claimed capital work. A tenant-side lawyer can materially reduce or defeat the AGI.
The LTB does not have jurisdiction over commercial tenancies, certain rooming and care home arrangements, and most short-term rentals. Disputes outside LTB jurisdiction proceed in Small Claims or Superior Court depending on value. The right venue depends on the tenancy type.
Tenant-side legal clinics offer free representation in many Ontario cities for income-qualified tenants. Private tenant-side counsel typically charge flat fees per hearing ($800 to $2,500) or hourly. Landlord-side counsel usually charge hourly or flat-fee per application. AGI applications and complex matters run higher.
No. The landlord must file the appropriate application with the LTB, get a hearing, and obtain an order. Only the Sheriff can enforce an eviction. Self-help eviction is illegal.
An N12 requires 60 days notice ending on the last day of a rental period. The landlord must compensate the tenant with one month's rent or offer comparable accommodation. New rules require an affidavit of good faith use.
Once per 12 months, no more than the provincial guideline plus any AGI ordered by the LTB. Increases require 90 days notice in writing using the prescribed form.
The annual guideline is published each year and applies to most residential units first occupied before November 15, 2018. Newer units are exempt from the guideline.
Wait times fluctuate. Eviction applications often hear within three to six months. Tenant applications can take longer. Expedited hearings are available for serious safety issues.
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