Which LTB Form Do You Need? Landlord and Tenant Guide for Ontario

Landlords and tenants often search for a form by name, such as L1, L2, N4 or T2, before they know whether that form fits their problem. The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has many forms, and choosing the wrong one can cost time.

This guide gives you a way to narrow things down: who you are, what the problem is, and what stage you have reached. It explains the process around the forms, including what to do after an order. Because the right form depends on your facts, a lawyer or legal clinic should confirm your choice before you file.

Start with whether the LTB can help

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 covers landlords and tenants of most rental units, including apartments, houses and rooms in rooming or boarding houses. It also applies to care homes, retirement homes, and sites in mobile home parks and land lease communities.

If the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or the owner's family members, the Act does not apply. Non-profit, public, university and college residences have fewer rent rules, but most other rules, such as maintenance and eviction, still apply. Check this before choosing any form.

Sort your problem into a category

Most disputes fall into a few groups. Ask yourself which one describes you, then ask a lawyer or legal clinic which notice or application matches it.

• Rent increases. A rent increase needs at least 12 months since the tenant moved in or since the last increase, plus at least 90 days' written notice. A unit not occupied for residential purposes on or before November 15, 2018 may be exempt from the guideline, though notice is still required.
• Entry and services. A landlord may generally enter only after 24 hours' written notice stating the reason, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Landlords cannot shut off vital services such as heat from September 1 to June 15, electricity, fuel, or hot or cold water.
• Deposits. A rent deposit can only be used for the last month's (or week's) rent and cannot exceed one month's rent where rent is paid monthly.
• Lease paperwork. Most tenancy agreements first entered into on or after April 30, 2018 must use the Standard Form of Lease, and a copy of any written lease must be given within 21 days.

If your problem is not on this list, that does not mean the LTB cannot help. It means you should get the form confirmed before filing.

The forms the LTB encourages you to file online

The Tribunals Ontario Portal is encouraged for L1, L2, L3, L4, L9, L10, T1, T2, T5, T6, C1 and C2 applications. 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. Do not rely on a form's letter alone. Read the title and instructions on each form, and confirm the match.

The Portal can be used to submit applications, check file status, upload evidence and see whether an order has been issued. Which notice or application fits your situation depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer or legal clinic before you file.

For L3 or L4 applications, the LTB can issue an ex parte order, which means an order made without a hearing. Tenants who receive one have a short window to challenge it, covered below.

If you already have an order

There are three ways to have an LTB order changed. A Request to Amend fixes clerical errors, with a deadline of 30 days after the order and no fee. A Request to Review goes to the LTB. 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, is filed with it, and only one review request is allowed per order. Review requests for consent orders are rarely granted unless there is evidence of fraud, coercion or duress.

If a Divisional Court appeal has been filed, the order is automatically stayed, and the LTB cannot consider a Request to Review unless the stay is first lifted. Older brochures may still show the old 30-day review deadline, so rely on the current LTB information.

What to do next

• Confirm the Residential Tenancies Act applies to your unit.
• Write one sentence describing your problem and what outcome you want.
• Collect your lease, notices, receipts and messages.
• Ask a lawyer or legal clinic to confirm the form. Free help is available from the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario for tenants and from the Landlord Self-Help Centre for small landlords, both funded by Legal Aid Ontario.
• If you hold an order, count the days from the date it was issued and act on the shortest deadline first.

LTB Contact Centre staff can explain process but cannot give legal advice. For the choice of form and strategy, speak with a lawyer or legal clinic.

Frequently asked questions