How the Landlord and Tenant Board process actually works

If you own or manage a rental in Ontario, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is the tribunal you will eventually deal with. It resolves disputes between residential landlords and tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. Most people only learn how it works when they are already in the middle of a problem.

This is a plain walkthrough of the process from start to finish: the notice, the application, the hearing, and the order. No legal jargon, just the shape of the thing so you know what to expect.

How does the Landlord and Tenant Board work?

Below, each stage is broken down in the order it normally happens.

What happens before you ever reach the LTB?

In most cases, the process starts with a written notice, not an application.

The Residential Tenancies Act sets out the reasons a tenancy can be ended and the notice that goes with each one. A landlord who wants to end a tenancy generally has to serve the correct notice form, with valid reasons and the right number of days, before they can take the next step.

• The reason has to be recognized. The Act lists the grounds, such as non-payment of rent or the landlord wanting the unit for their own use. You cannot invent a reason.
• The form has to be right. Different situations use different notice forms with different timelines.
• The clock matters. Notices have minimum periods, and serving them incorrectly can sink an application later.

Sometimes the notice resolves things on its own. A tenant may pay the rent owed, or both sides may reach an agreement, and no application is needed.

How do you actually file an application?

If the notice does not resolve the issue, the next step is filing an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board.

An application is the formal request that asks the Board to make a decision. Landlords commonly apply about unpaid rent or to end a tenancy. Tenants can apply too, for example about maintenance and repairs, illegal entry, harassment, or being charged amounts they should not have been charged.

Once an application is filed and a fee is paid, the Board schedules a hearing and both parties are notified. The other side receives a copy of the application so they can prepare a response.

What is an LTB hearing like?

A hearing is where both sides tell their version to an adjudicator who then makes a decision.

The adjudicator is a neutral decision-maker appointed to the Board. At the hearing, each side can present evidence, explain their position, and respond to the other party. Hearings may be held in different formats, so it is worth confirming the details on the notice of hearing you receive.

• Bring your evidence. Leases, payment records, photos, messages, and notices all support your case.
• Be ready to be questioned. The adjudicator can ask both sides for clarification.
• Mediation may be offered. In some cases the parties can reach an agreement before or instead of a full hearing.

Good records win hearings. The landlord or tenant who can show a clear, dated trail of what happened is in a far stronger position than the one relying on memory.

These steps are illustrative only. Actual timelines depend on the type of application and the Board's current scheduling, which we are not quoting here.

What does an LTB order do, and who enforces it?

After the hearing, the adjudicator issues a written order that sets out the decision and what each party must do.

An order might require a tenant to pay rent owed, require a landlord to do repairs, or terminate a tenancy. An important point that surprises many landlords: an order is not the same as physically removing a tenant.

• Only the LTB can order an eviction. A landlord cannot lawfully change the locks or remove a tenant on their own.
• Only the Sheriff enforces it. If an eviction order is made, enforcement is carried out by the Court Enforcement Office, not the landlord.
• Orders can have conditions. A tenant may be given a chance to pay and remain, depending on the situation.

That is the full arc: notice, application, hearing, order. Knowing the sequence helps you act earlier and avoid the mistakes that get applications dismissed.

Frequently asked

Do I need a notice before applying to the LTB?

In most cases, yes. The Residential Tenancies Act requires the correct written notice with the right reasons and timelines before a landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an order, such as termination or eviction.

Can a landlord evict a tenant without an LTB order?

No. A landlord cannot lawfully evict a tenant on their own. Only the Landlord and Tenant Board can order an eviction, and only the Court Enforcement Office (the Sheriff) can enforce it.

Do both landlords and tenants use the LTB?

Yes. The Landlord and Tenant Board resolves disputes for both sides. Tenants can apply about maintenance, illegal entry, or harassment, and landlords can apply about unpaid rent or termination.