Ontario legal guide · Updated 2026-06-16
N4 Notice — What It Means for Ontario Tenants
An N4 is the landlord's notice that they say you owe rent. It is not an eviction order. Paying the full amount owing voids the notice any time before the landlord applies to the LTB — and even after that, only the LTB can order you to move.
What an N4 must contain
- A termination date no earlier than the 7th day after the notice is given (RTA s. 59(1); a notice given before 21 September 2026 is measured under the former rule — see the FAQ above).
- Exact amount of rent owing, broken down by month.
- A statement that you can avoid termination by paying the amount due by the termination date (RTA s. 59(2)).
- Landlord signature and date.
Your options as a tenant
- Pay the arrears in full before the landlord applies to the LTB — the N4 is void (RTA s. 59(3)). Paying by the termination date on the notice is the safest course. Keep proof (e-transfer confirmation, receipt).
- Negotiate a repayment plan — get it in writing before the landlord files L1.
- Dispute at the hearing — if the amount is wrong, if you were withholding rent lawfully, or if there are maintenance / harassment counterclaims (file a T2 or T6).
- Pay before the order issues — RTA s. 74 gives a second route once the landlord has applied, but you must add the landlord's application fee and any new arrears. Confirm the current fee with the LTB.
What happens next
Once the termination date on the notice has passed and the arrears are unpaid, the landlord can file an LTB L1 — Application to Evict a Tenant for Non-payment of Rent with the LTB. You'll get a Notice of Hearing. Show up — do not miss the hearing. The LTB will not evict you without a hearing and an order.
Issues you can raise at the hearing
- Amount owing is incorrect (bring your ledger).
- Payments the landlord failed to credit (bring e-transfer / bank records).
- Serious maintenance issues, landlord harassment or illegal entry. You can raise these at the hearing under RTA s. 82 if you give the landlord a written description of them and, unless the regulations say otherwise, pay half of the arrears claimed, both at least 7 days before the hearing (LTB Rules, r. 19.4). You can also file your own T6 or T2.
- Rent was withheld due to an authorized rent abatement.
Official form reference
LTB N4 — Notice to End your Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent — always download the current version from Tribunals Ontario. Do not rely on a cached PDF.
For a longer walkthrough of defences and hearing prep, see our complete N4 defence guide.
Need help with your case?
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Frequently asked questions
Does an N4 mean I have to move out?
No. An N4 is a notice, not an order. The landlord must apply to the LTB (Form L1) and get a hearing before any eviction can be enforced by the Sheriff.
How do I void an N4?
Under RTA s. 59(3) the notice is void if you pay the rent in arrears, plus any rent that has come due by the time you pay, before the day the landlord applies to the Board. There is no fixed cut-off on this right — what ends it is the landlord filing the application, which the landlord cannot do before the day after the termination date on the notice (RTA s. 74(1)), but can do any time after it. The N4 itself will also invite payment by the termination date printed on it (RTA s. 59(2)); paying by that date is the safest course, but missing it does not by itself end your right to void.
How much notice must the N4 give?
Go by the termination date printed on your notice — that is the operative date. Under RTA s. 59(1) the termination date must be no earlier than the 7th day after the notice is given, for every type of tenancy (2025, c. 14, Sched. 12, s. 4, in force 21 September 2026). If your notice was given before that date, the former rule applies to it: the 7th day for a daily or weekly tenancy, the 14th for every other tenancy (former s. 59(1)). A termination date earlier than the applicable minimum can be challenged at the hearing.
What if the amount on the N4 is wrong?
A materially incorrect amount can be a defence at the L1 hearing. Bring your rent ledger, receipts, and any e-transfer records to challenge the calculation.
Can I still void it after the landlord applies to the LTB?
The s. 59(3) right ends once the landlord applies, but a second route opens: under RTA s. 74 paying the full amount owed — including any new arrears and the landlord's application fee — before the eviction order is issued voids the application. Confirm the current fee amount with the LTB before relying on a figure.
Quorex provides legal information and procedural guidance, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For legal advice, contact Legal Aid Ontario (1-800-668-8258) or a licensed lawyer or paralegal.