Where to Get Help With an LTB Application in Ontario

Landlord and Tenant Board forms can be confusing, and deadlines are short. If you are stuck on an application, you are not alone, and there are several places to turn for help.

This article covers where the Residential Tenancies Act applies, how to file, who to call, which deadlines to watch, and what support is available at no cost through Legal Aid Ontario funded groups.

Does the Residential Tenancies Act cover your situation?

Landlords and tenants of most rental units are covered by most of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Rental units include apartments, houses, and rooms in rooming or boarding houses. The Act also applies to care homes, retirement homes, and sites in mobile home parks and land lease communities.

There are exceptions. The Act does not apply if the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or the owner's family members. Non-profit, public, university and college residences are still covered by most of the Act's other rules, such as maintenance and eviction, though many rent rules do not apply.

Choosing the right form and filing it

Which form applies depends on what you are asking the Board to decide. The Tribunals Ontario Portal is encouraged for L1, L2, L3, L4, L9, L10, T1, T2, T5, T6, C1 and C2 applications. You can use it to submit applications, check file status, upload evidence and see whether an order has been issued.

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. If you are unsure which form fits your problem, it is worth confirming with a lawyer before you file.

Who to contact

• LTB phone: toll-free 1-888-332-3234, Toronto area 416-645-8080, or TTY via Bell Relay 1-800-855-0511, Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• 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.
• Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (for tenants) and the Landlord Self-Help Centre (for small landlords), both funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

Contact Centre staff give information but not legal advice. The LTB states that phone waits average 10 to 15 minutes. 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. These times may change, so check current figures.

Wait at least two months after filing before checking status, and email LTB@ontario.ca if there is no order 60 days after the hearing.

Evidence and deadlines to watch

Under Rule 19 of the LTB Rules of Procedure, a party's evidence must be disclosed 7 days before the hearing and responding evidence 5 days before, unless the LTB orders otherwise. A party who does not comply may be barred from relying on that evidence. Filing evidence does not make it admissible, because the Member decides. Hearing evidence 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.

From July 1, 2026, the LTB may review a final order only where the party was not reasonably able to participate, there was a serious error, or there is 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. Only one review request is allowed per order.

What to do next

• Write down your file number, hearing date and any order date.
• Gather your lease, notices, receipts, photos and messages.
• Call the LTB for general information, or use the Tribunals Ontario Portal.
• Contact the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario or the Landlord Self-Help Centre if you qualify.
• Count your deadlines from the order date right away, since they are short.
• Ask a lawyer to confirm the right form, especially before a review or appeal.

Frequently asked questions