Ontario renter guide
Last verified: August 27, 2026. Last updated: .
The short answer: eviction in Ontario is a formal legal process. It starts with a written notice on the correct form, and if the issue isn't resolved, it moves to an application and a hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), which issues a binding written order. A landlord cannot simply lock you out or shut off your utilities, and many notices can be cancelled if you fix the problem within the deadline on the form.
The N4 form is the notice an Ontario landlord serves when rent isn't paid in full on the day it's due, and it can be issued as early as the next day.
The form gives you a deadline, currently 14 days for monthly tenancies, and if you pay the full amount owed before it passes, the notice is void. If the deadline passes unresolved, the landlord can file an L1 application and the LTB process begins.
The N12 form is the notice used in specific own-use or purchaser-use situations when the landlord, purchaser, certain qualifying family members, or a caregiver genuinely intends to occupy the unit. Purchaser-use has additional requirements, including limits based on the type and size of the property.
Strict rules apply: at least 60 days' notice, one month's rent as compensation paid by the termination date, and it can't cut a fixed-term lease short. If the termination date passes unresolved, the landlord files an application with the LTB (an L2 in this case) and a hearing is scheduled.
For renovations extensive enough to need a building permit and a vacant unit, the landlord must give 120 days' notice on an N13. You have the right of first refusal: you can move back in once the work is done at the rent you were paying, subject to any lawful guideline increases in the meantime.
For undue damage or seriously interfering with others, the landlord serves an N5. You get 7 days to correct the issue; if it isn't corrected, the landlord can file an L2 with the LTB.
Once an application is filed, the LTB sends a Notice of Hearing with the date and format. Submit your evidence (photos, messages, receipts) before the deadline, or it may not be considered. After the hearing, the adjudicator's written order follows. If you believe the order got something seriously wrong, you can ask the LTB to review it, and that window is now 15 days.
Ontario has proclaimed the following Bill 60 eviction-related changes to take effect on September 21, 2026. They are not in force before that date:
Until September 21, 2026, the current rules described above apply. We'll update this page when the new rules take effect.
No. Only the formal LTB process can end a tenancy, and shutting off vital services like heat, water, or electricity is a serious offence.
Yes, with an N12: at least 60 days' notice, one month's rent as compensation, and not in the middle of a fixed-term lease.
An eviction for major renovations, using an N13 with 120 days' notice. The work must need a building permit, and you can choose to move back in afterwards.
The landlord can issue an N4 as early as the next day. Pay the full amount before the form's deadline and the notice is voided.
Direct links to the Residential Tenancies Act, the Landlord and Tenant Board, and the Ontario Standard Lease are on our RTA resources page.
Related reading: rent increases in Ontario and breaking a lease in Ontario.
The information provided on Tenant.ca is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord and tenant matters in Ontario are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and adjudicated by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). Please consult the LTB or a legal professional for guidance on your specific situation.
