Contacting the Landlord and Tenant Board in Ontario

When you have a case at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), the hardest part can be reaching the right channel and knowing how long to wait. A wrong email or a too-early follow-up can cost you time.

This article explains how to contact the LTB, how to use the Tribunals Ontario Portal, what wait times the LTB has stated, and which deadlines matter once an order is made. Times and procedures can change, so confirm the current details with the LTB.

By phone

Call toll-free at 1-888-332-3234, or 416-645-8080 in the Toronto area. For TTY, use Bell Relay at 1-800-855-0511. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m..

Contact Centre staff give information but not legal advice. Phone waits have been stated to average 10 to 15 minutes.

Because staff cannot advise you on what to do in your case, it helps to call with a specific, practical question in mind and to have your file number in front of you. For advice about your own situation, it is worth confirming with a lawyer. Free help for tenants and for small landlords is described below.

By email

File-specific emails go to LTB@ontario.ca with the file number in the subject line. The LTB does not answer file-status or general questions by email.

Evidence for a hearing is handled separately. It can be emailed to LTB.Evidence@ontario.ca with the file number and hearing date in the subject line, or uploaded through the Tribunals Ontario Portal.

Sending evidence to the right address is only part of the picture. Rule 19 of the LTB Rules of Procedure sets disclosure deadlines, and a party who does not comply may be barred from relying on that evidence. Filing evidence also does not make it admissible, because the Member decides.

Using the Tribunals Ontario Portal

The portal can be used to submit applications, check file status, upload evidence and see whether an order has been issued. It is encouraged for L1, L2, L3, L4, L9, L10, T1, T2, T5, T6, C1 and C2 applications.

If you prefer not to file online, applications can also be filed in person at ServiceOntario locations (filing only), or by mail or courier to 15 Grosvenor Street, Ground Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2G6.

Since the portal shows whether an order has been issued, checking it is usually quicker than phoning, and it avoids the phone wait.

Wait times

• Hearings for L1 and L9 applications are scheduled about 3 months out, and most other types 5 to 7 months out.
• Most decisions issue within 30 days of the hearing.
• Wait at least two months after filing before checking status.
• If there is no order 60 days after the hearing, email LTB@ontario.ca.

These are the LTB's stated figures and actual times may differ. Plan around the longer end of the range, and keep your contact details up to date so you do not miss a notice.

After an order: deadlines to watch

There are three ways to have an LTB order changed. A Request to Amend fixes clerical errors, a Request to Review goes to the LTB, and an appeal goes to the Divisional Court.

For orders issued on or after July 1, 2026, the LTB may review a final order only on three grounds: the party was not reasonably able to participate, a serious error, or new evidence that could not have been obtained earlier. A late review request is considered only if a Request to Extend Deadline, with reasons for the delay, is filed with it, and a party may make only one review request per order.

An appeal automatically stays the LTB's order until the court decides, and a copy of the appeal documents must be sent to the LTB. If an appeal has been filed, the LTB cannot consider a Request to Review unless the stay is first lifted.

If an order was made without a hearing on an L3 or L4 application, it can be challenged with Form S2, Motion to Set Aside an Ex Parte Order, filed no later than 10 days after the order was issued. After 10 days, a Request to Extend Deadline must be filed with the motion, explaining the delay.

What to do next

• Have your file number and hearing date ready before you call or write.
• Use the portal for status checks and uploads rather than email.
• Send evidence early. Evidence is generally to be disclosed 7 days before the hearing, and responding evidence 5 days before, unless the LTB orders otherwise.
• If you receive an order, note its date at once, because review and appeal deadlines are short.
• Free help is available through the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (for tenants) and the Landlord Self-Help Centre (for small landlords), both funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

If you are unsure how to proceed, a lawyer can review your file and explain your options.

Frequently asked questions