Landlord and Tenant Board Ontario: Contacting the LTB and Hearing Formats

If you are in a dispute with a landlord or tenant, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is likely where it will be decided. Many people find it hard to know who to call, where to look for updates, and what a hearing will actually involve.

This article explains how to contact the LTB, how to check on your application, and how video, phone and in-person hearings work. It is general information, not legal advice, and your situation may call for a lawyer's input.

What the LTB does

The Landlord and Tenant Board is part of Tribunals Ontario. It is where a landlord or tenant goes to resolve a dispute or to end a tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act.

The LTB resolves disputes in two ways. In mediation, a mediator helps the parties reach an agreement. In adjudication, a member hears the evidence and issues an order, which is the final written version of the member's decision.

How to contact the LTB

The LTB takes calls Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Which channel to use depends on what you need.

Keep in mind that the LTB does not answer general inquiries by email. If you have a general question, use the phone line rather than writing in.

Checking the status of your application

You can see your file status, your next hearing date and whether an order has been issued through the Tribunals Ontario Portal.

Give the LTB some time before you check. The LTB asks you to wait at least two months after filing, and if you have no order 60 days after your hearing, you can email LTB@ontario.ca.

Video, phone and in-person hearings

The LTB schedules virtual, written or in-person hearings. Virtual hearings can be held by video using Zoom or by telephone. The Notice of Hearing tells you the hearing type, date and time.

If you need an accommodation, such as for a disability, submit the Accommodation Request form (TO001E) to LTB@ontario.ca, or send it by mail or courier to 15 Grosvenor Street, Ground Floor, Toronto. Include your name and file number, and do it as soon as possible.

Preparing for and attending your hearing

Parties must give the other parties a copy of their evidence at least 7 business days before the hearing, or 5 days for responding evidence. Evidence should be submitted through the portal.

Attendance matters. If you do not attend and no one attends for you, the adjudicator can dismiss the application or decide it without you. If you do not sign in when your case is called, the hearing may go ahead without you.

If you cannot make the date, the LTB's guideline says a hearing will be rescheduled if you obtain the other parties' agreement. Without consent, a request may be granted only if it was not reasonably possible to get consent, and otherwise the hearing proceeds on the scheduled date. The form is called Request to Reschedule a Hearing.

What to do next

• Find your Notice of Hearing and note the format, date and time.
• Save the LTB phone numbers and your file number where you can find them.
• Create or log in to your Tribunals Ontario Portal account to track your file.
• Test your Zoom link or phone connection before the hearing day.
• Send your evidence to the other parties on time and through the portal.
• If you need an accommodation, send form TO001E as early as you can.
• If the dispute is serious, such as an eviction, speak with a lawyer or legal clinic before your hearing.

Frequently asked questions