A plain-language walkthrough for landlords and tenants preparing for a Landlord and Tenant Board hearing under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 — applications, notices, evidence, Zoom procedure, section 83 relief, adjournments and reviews.
Last updated 2026-06-16. Legal information only — not legal advice.
The Landlord and Tenant Board resolves residential disputes under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. It can terminate a tenancy and order eviction, order payment of arrears or rent abatement, order repairs, and restore a tenant's rights after an illegal lockout.
It cannot hear commercial-tenancy disputes, award remedies above $50,000 (those go to Superior Court), or grant punitive damages in most circumstances.
N4 (non-payment): paying the rent in arrears before the landlord applies to the Board voids the notice (RTA s. 59(3)); the notice also states a termination date by which it invites payment.
N5 (interference/damage/overcrowding): First N5 = 7 days to remedy; second N5 in 6 months has no remedy period.
N6 / N7 (illegal act / serious safety): No remedy period; landlord may file L2 immediately.
N8 (end of the term, including persistent late payment): at least 60 days' notice for a monthly tenancy (28 for daily or weekly), no remedy period; it is void 30 days after the termination date if the landlord has not applied (RTA ss. 44, 46, 58).
N12 (landlord's or purchaser's own use): 60-day notice + one month's compensation; ends on the last day of a rental period.
N13 (demolition / major repair / conversion): 120-day minimum notice; specific compensation rules apply.
Number every page, include a one-page index, and serve copies on the other party and the LTB by the disclosure deadline on your Notice of Hearing.
Join 15 minutes early on a wired or strong Wi-Fi connection. Use your real legal name as the display name and have photo ID on hand.
Pick a quiet room with neutral background. Mute when not speaking. Address the adjudicator as "Member" or "Adjudicator".
Have your evidence open in a single folder so you can screen-share quickly when asked.
Even where a landlord has proven the grounds for eviction, section 83 of the RTA requires the adjudicator to consider whether it would be unfair to grant the order. The Board can refuse the eviction, delay it, or grant a conditional order (for example, a payment plan).
Tenants should always be ready to make s. 83 submissions, even if they have no defence to the arrears.
Pay and stay (L1): A tenant can void an eviction order by paying all rent owing plus the filing fee before the enforcement date (RTA s. 74), unless the order says otherwise.
Enforcement: Only the Court Enforcement Office (Sheriff) can carry out an eviction. Payment orders can be filed with the Superior Court (Small Claims if $50,000 or less) for garnishment or seizure.
Review or appeal: A Request to Review must be filed within 15 days of the day the order is issued, and the Board may extend that time (RTA s. 209(3)); 30 days applies only to an order issued before July 1, 2026 (LTB Rules r. 26.4). It must identify a serious error. An appeal on a question of law goes to the Divisional Court within 30 days (RTA s. 210(1)).
Government-issued photo ID, your Notice of Hearing with the file number, your application or response, a numbered evidence package (with an index), any witness contact details, and a written outline of what you plan to say. If your hearing is by Zoom, have digital copies ready to screen-share.
Most LTB hearings are still held by video conference on Zoom. In-person hearings happen in limited circumstances and written hearings are used for straightforward or uncontested matters. Your Notice of Hearing tells you which format applies.
Section 83 of the Residential Tenancies Act requires the adjudicator to consider whether granting (or delaying) an eviction would be unfair given all the circumstances — including tenant health, family situation, efforts to pay, and landlord conduct. It applies to virtually every eviction application.
Yes. In L1 non-payment cases, a tenant can usually "pay and stay" — voiding the eviction order by paying all rent owed plus the filing fee before the enforcement date, unless the LTB has expressly ordered otherwise (RTA s. 74).
Adjournments are not automatic. You must request one and justify it (illness, late disclosure, need for representation). Always prepare to proceed on the hearing date — if you simply do not show up, the LTB can hear the matter without you.
Quorex provides legal information, not legal advice, and is not a law firm. Always verify current rules at tribunalsontario.ca/ltb or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234. For advice on your situation, contact a licensed Ontario lawyer or paralegal, or your local community legal clinic via legalaid.on.ca.
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