Which Law Governs the Landlord and Tenant Board: the Residential Tenancies Act or a Landlord and Tenant Board Act in Ontario?
The rules that decide most landlord and tenant disputes in Ontario are in the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). People often search for a Landlord and Tenant Board Act, but the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal that applies the RTA, and the Act is where you will find the substance. The RTA applies to rental units despite any agreement or waiver to the contrary (s. 3(1)), and any lease term that conflicts with the Act is void (s. 4(1)).
Some useful starting points: entry to show a unit to a potential buyer is in s. 27(2); the rent deposit rules are in ss. 105 and 106; a landlord's own-use notice is under s. 48; and a purchaser's-use notice is under s. 49. The N4 non-payment rules are in s. 59. The Act has exceptions too, such as where an occupant must share a bathroom or kitchen with the owner (s. 5(i)).
The law has changed recently. The 7-day N4 period applies to notices given on or after September 21, 2026, and several forms were replaced. Read the current version of the Act on Ontario e-Laws and the forms on the Tribunals Ontario website, and ask a lawyer when your situation does not fit neatly.
Key takeaways
- Many people search for a Landlord and Tenant Board Act, but the main rules are in the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA).
- The RTA applies to rental units despite any agreement or waiver, and a conflicting lease term is void.
- Key rules sit in specific sections, such as entry (s. 27), deposits (ss. 105 and 106) and own-use notices (ss. 48 and 49).
- Rules changed in 2026, so check the current version of the Act and current LTB forms before relying on any summary.