What the Residential Tenancies Act Means for Landlords and Tenants in Ontario

People often search for the "landlord and tenant board act", but the law itself is the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal that applies it and decides disputes.

This article gives a plain summary of who the Act covers, who is left out and a few of the rules that come up most often. It is a general overview, not a substitute for advice on your own situation.

What the Act covers

Landlords and tenants of most rental units are covered by most of the Act's rules. Rental units include 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. The Act came into effect on January 31, 2007.

Who is exempt or partly exempt

• Shared kitchen or bathroom: the Act does not apply if the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or with the owner's family members.
• Non-profit, public, university and college residences: many of the rent rules do not apply, but these units are still covered by most of the Act's other rules, such as maintenance and eviction.
• Units not occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018: these may be exempt from the rent increase guideline. Notice is still required, but there is no limit on the size of the increase.

Not every living arrangement fits neatly into the Act. Whether an exemption applies to yours depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer before relying on one.

Everyday rules at a glance

The LTB and changing an order

When a dispute cannot be resolved, applications go to the LTB. There are three ways to have an LTB order changed: a Request to Amend fixes clerical errors (30 days after the order, no fee), 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, a Request to Review must be filed within 15 days of the order, and for orders issued before July 1, 2026 the deadline is 30 days. The filing fee is $58. An appeal to the Divisional Court is only on a question of law, within 30 days after the order. Older brochures may still show the old deadline, so check the current LTB information.

From July 1, 2026, the LTB may review a final order only on three grounds: the party was not reasonably able to participate (for example, no adequate notice of the hearing), 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 together with it, and a party may make only one review request per order. If an appeal has been filed, the order is automatically stayed, and the LTB cannot consider a Request to Review unless the stay is first lifted.

Orders issued without a hearing on L3 or L4 applications 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. Filing on time stays the order. After 10 days, the tenant must file a Request to Extend Deadline with the motion, explaining the delay.

What to do next

If you have a hearing coming up, evidence must generally be disclosed 7 days before the hearing, and responding evidence 5 days before, unless the LTB orders otherwise. 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.

• Check whether your unit is covered, especially if you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner
• Keep a copy of your lease; a copy of any written lease must be given within 21 days
• Keep notices in writing and note the dates
• Count deadlines carefully from the date an order was issued
• Use free help or speak with a lawyer if a dispute is serious

Frequently asked questions