Landlord and Tenant Board Hearings for Thunder Bay Rentals, Ontario

If you rent out or rent a home in Thunder Bay, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 covers most rental units. Where a particular dispute over rent, repairs, entry or ending a tenancy should be heard depends on your situation, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer. Knowing how to file and what to expect makes the process less stressful.

This article explains how filing works, how to find out how your file will be handled, what the wait looks like and how to prepare your evidence. The same Ontario rules apply in Thunder Bay as anywhere else in the province.

Does the LTB handle your Thunder Bay rental?

Most rental units in Ontario are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. That includes apartments, houses, and rooms in rooming or boarding houses, and the Act also applies to care homes, retirement homes, and sites in mobile home parks and land lease communities.

There is an important exception. The Act does not apply if the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or with the owner's family members. If that is your situation, the LTB may not be the right place for your dispute, and it is worth speaking with a lawyer before filing.

How to file an application

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

You can also file in person at ServiceOntario locations, which is for filing only, or by mail or courier to 15 Grosvenor Street, Ground Floor, Toronto, ON M7A 2G6. Because you are filing from Thunder Bay, the portal is often the simplest route.

Which LTB location or hearing format will handle your particular file is something to confirm with the LTB directly rather than assume. You can call toll-free at 1-888-332-3234, or 416-645-8080 in the Toronto area, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. Contact Centre staff give information but not legal advice.

How long it takes

The LTB states that 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 are the LTB's stated figures and can change, so treat them as a guide.

• Wait at least two months after filing before checking your status.
• If there is no order 60 days after the hearing, email LTB@ontario.ca.
• Phone waits average 10 to 15 minutes.
• The LTB does not answer file-status or general questions by email.

Preparing your evidence

Rule 19 of the LTB Rules of Procedure sets disclosure deadlines. 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. The Member decides what is accepted. 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.

• The lease or tenancy agreement, if there is a written one
• Rent records, receipts and bank statements
• Notices, letters, texts and emails between you and the other party
• Photos or videos with dates, if the dispute is about repairs or damage
• A short list of dates and events in order

What to do next

Free help may be available. The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (for tenants) and the Landlord Self-Help Centre (for small landlords) are funded by Legal Aid Ontario.

• Confirm that the Residential Tenancies Act applies to your unit
• Choose your filing method and gather your documents
• Note your hearing date and the 7-day and 5-day evidence deadlines
• Keep checking the portal for notices and orders
• Speak with a lawyer if the dispute is complicated or the stakes are high

Frequently asked questions