09/23/2026
As of today, September 21, 2026, several Ontario rental-law changes are now in effect under amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act. The main changes affect unpaid rent, eviction hearings, late payments, personal-use evictions, and renovation evictions.
Changes for tenants:
N4 unpaid-rent notices are reduced from 14 days to 7 days. Tenants must pay the outstanding rent within the new period or the landlord may apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for eviction. This applies to N4 notices served on or after September 21, 2026.
Tenants raising other problems at a rent-arrears hearing must generally pay 50% of the claimed arrears. This could include complaints about repairs, maintenance, harassment, or other tenant-rights issues. The payment must be made directly to the landlord at least 7 days before the hearing, and the tenant should keep proof of payment.
Persistent late payment now has a formal definition. A tenant may be considered persistently late if rent is paid more than 7 days after the due date on at least 3 occasions within a 6-month period.
Tenants still need to provide details of the issues they want to raise to both the landlord and the LTB at least 7 days before the rent-arrears hearing.
Renovation-related move-back rights are more clearly defined. If a tenant gives written notice that they want to return after repairs or renovations, the landlord must provide updates about the expected completion date and give the tenant 60 days’ notice to reoccupy once the unit is ready.
Changes for landlords:
Personal-use N12 evictions can avoid the one-month compensation requirement when the landlord gives at least 120 days’ notice. The notice must meet the applicable legal requirements. This exception applies to the landlord’s own use or certain family members’ use, but not to an N12 based on a purchaser’s use.
The intended occupant must normally move in within 60 days of the date stated in the N12 notice. If they do not, the eviction is presumed to have been given in bad faith, although the landlord can try to rebut that presumption at a T5 hearing.
Updated LTB forms must be used. Updated forms include the N4, N8, N12, N13, L1, L2, L9, L10 and T5. Previous versions will no longer be accepted after November 30, 2026.
Renovation or repair evictions require better communication. Landlords must notify tenants about estimated completion dates, changes to the schedule, and when the unit is ready for occupancy.
If you rent in Ontario, major changes take effect starting on Monda...
