Lisa Duchene
May 20, 2026
By Lisa Duchene, Licensed Paralegal, Cornwall, Ontario
If you rent out a property or live in one, the rules that govern your relationship are changing. The Bill 60 LTB Ontario reforms have been passed by the Legislature and are now being phased in. They will reshape how cases move through the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). This guide explains, in plain language, what does Bill 60 mean for LTB cases in Ontario, when each change takes effect, and the practical steps both tenants and landlords should be taking now.
This guide covers:
- What Bill 60 means for LTB cases in Ontario
- The new Bill 60 review deadline of 15 days to ask the LTB for a review
- How Bill 60 affects rent arrears hearings
- Bill 60 N4 notice changes in Ontario
- Bill 60 and own use eviction compensation
Updated September 27, 2026: The changes described below are now in force. The 15-day review deadline and Board-approved notice forms took effect July 1, 2026. The 7-day N4, the 120-day own-use compensation exemption, the half-arrears condition for raising other issues at an arrears hearing, the new definition of persistent late payment, and new limits on setting aside and delaying eviction orders took effect September 21, 2026. For arrears files, see our September 21 rent arrears guide.
What Bill 60 Is
Bill 60 is officially the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025. It received Royal Assent on November 27, 2025, and is now Chapter 14 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025.
It is an omnibus statute, a single Act that amends sixteen different pieces of legislation, from transit and construction law to municipal water services. For tenants and landlords, the part that matters is Schedule 12, which amends the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the RTA). The RTA is the law the LTB applies to almost every residential tenancy dispute in the province.
The stated goal of the housing changes is to reduce delays at the LTB so that tenants and landlords reach resolutions faster.
One point shapes everything below: the Schedule 12 changes are not all taking effect at once. They are being proclaimed in stages:
- A first group of changes takes effect on July 1, 2026.
- A second group takes effect on September 21, 2026.
- The half-arrears pay-in rule, the persistent late payment definition and the new limits on eviction relief were also brought into force on September 21, 2026.
Each change applies from its own in-force date, so a notice given or an application filed before that date can still fall under the earlier rules.
Bill 60 LTB Ontario: How the Changes Affect LTB Cases
The reforms touch several of the most common LTB processes. As they roll out, the headline effects of the Bill 60 LTB Ontario changes will be:
- A faster non-payment-of-rent process, with shorter notice timelines.
- A new requirement for tenants who want to raise their own issues at a rent arrears hearing.
- A shorter window to ask the LTB to review a decision.
- A new exemption from compensation for certain "own use" evictions.
- More of the fine detail left to future regulations, which means the LTB's discretion will be shaped by rules still to come.
The sections below break down what this means for each side, and when.
Key Changes for Tenants
Faster non-payment notices
One of the most significant Bill 60 N4 notice changes in Ontario affects timing. The N4 is the notice a landlord uses to end a tenancy early for non-payment of rent. Under the current rules, an N4 for a typical monthly tenancy must give the tenant at least 14 days. Under Bill 60, the termination date on a non-payment notice can be as early as the 7th day after the notice is given. That is a much shorter window to pay the arrears or respond. This change takes effect September 21, 2026 and applies to N4 notices given on or after that date.
Raising your own issues at a rent arrears hearing
This is one of the most important ways Bill 60 affects rent arrears hearings. Before this change, a tenant facing a non-payment application could raise their own concerns at the hearing, such as outstanding repairs or maintenance problems. Now, a tenant who wants to raise those separate issues must pay the landlord half of the rent arrears claimed in the landlord's application at least 7 days before the hearing. The payment goes directly to the landlord and cannot be paid to the LTB in trust. The tenant can still dispute the landlord's claim itself, and can still file a separate application (such as a T2 or T6) about maintenance or other concerns. This change took effect September 21, 2026 and applies to arrears applications filed on or after that date.
A shorter review deadline
If you disagree with an LTB decision, one option is to ask the Board to review it. Bill 60 sets a firm review deadline of 15 days from the date the decision or order is issued, unless the LTB considers it just and appropriate to extend the time. That is shorter than the 30-day window allowed under the LTB's current Rules of Procedure, so acting quickly will matter even more. This change takes effect July 1, 2026 and applies to decisions and orders issued on or after that date.
Key Changes for Landlords
A quicker path on non-payment
The shorter N4 timeline cuts both ways. For landlords dealing with unpaid rent, the ability to set a termination date as early as 7 days after notice is meant to speed up the non-payment process. Landlords will still need to file an application and attend a hearing, but the front end of the process is designed to be faster. This applies to N4 notices given on or after September 21, 2026.
Own use eviction compensation
Currently, when a landlord ends a tenancy so they or a close family member can move in (an N12 notice under section 48 of the RTA), the landlord must compensate the tenant one month's rent or offer an acceptable alternative unit. Effective September 21, 2026, Bill 60 introduces an exemption. The Bill 60 own use eviction compensation rule says that requirement will not apply if the landlord gives an own-use notice that:
- is given on or after the day the new provision comes into force;
- specifies a termination date at least 120 days after the notice is given; and
- ends on the last day of a tenancy period, or the end of the term for a fixed-term lease.
In other words, a landlord who plans well ahead and gives long notice may avoid the compensation requirement. Importantly, the bad-faith protections remain, and are now stronger. Since September 21, 2026, the landlord or family member must normally move in within 60 days of the termination date on the notice; if they do not, the LTB presumes the notice was given in bad faith unless the landlord proves otherwise. The 120-day exemption and the 60-day rule do not apply to notices given for a purchaser's own use. If a landlord ends a tenancy for their own use but does not actually move in, the tenant can still apply to the LTB and may be awarded a remedy, including the difference in rent for up to 12 months and reasonable moving expenses.
New notice forms
Effective July 1, 2026, Bill 60 confirms that notices of termination must be given in a form approved by the LTB, or in a form prescribed by regulation. Landlords should make sure they are always using the current, correct LTB form; a defective notice can sink an application.
Important Deadlines and Timelines
As the Bill 60 LTB Ontario changes roll out, these are the numbers and dates to remember:
- July 1, 2026, when the 15-day LTB review deadline and the Board-approved notice-form rules take effect.
- September 21, 2026, when the 7-day N4 non-payment timeline and the own-use compensation exemption take effect.
- September 21, 2026 is also when the rent arrears pay-in rule, the persistent late payment definition and the new limits on setting aside or delaying evictions took effect.
- 7 days is the earliest termination date that can appear on an N4 non-payment notice.
- 15 days is the deadline to ask the LTB to review a decision or order, measured from the date it is issued.
- 120 days is the minimum notice an "own use" eviction needs to qualify for the compensation exemption.
- Half of the arrears claimed is what a tenant must pay the landlord at least 7 days before the hearing to raise their own separate issues, where the application was filed on or after September 21, 2026.
Transition rules mean most changes apply only to notices, applications, decisions, or orders made on or after the relevant in-force date.
Practical Next Steps
Because the changes are phased in through 2026, there is no need to panic, but it is the right time to prepare.
If you are a tenant
- Treat any non-payment notice as urgent; assume the timelines are short and get advice immediately.
- If you have repair or maintenance concerns, document them now with photos, dates, and written requests to your landlord.
- If you receive an LTB decision you disagree with, act within days, not weeks.
If you are a landlord
- Always use the current LTB-approved forms and serve them correctly; a defective notice can sink an application.
- If an own-use eviction is on the horizon, plan early so you can take advantage of the 120-day notice option.
- Keep clear records of rent payments and communications.
For either side, the safest step is to speak with a licensed paralegal before serving a notice, responding to one, or attending a hearing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bill 60 in force right now?
Bill 60 received Royal Assent on November 27, 2025, but the LTB and RTA changes in Schedule 12 are being proclaimed in stages. The 15-day LTB review deadline and the notice-form rules take effect July 1, 2026. The 7-day N4 notice period and the own-use compensation changes take effect September 21, 2026. The rent arrears pay-in rule, the persistent late payment definition and the new limits on setting aside or delaying evictions also took effect September 21, 2026. Each change generally applies only to notices, applications or orders given, filed or issued on or after its in-force date.
Does the 15-day review deadline apply to my LTB case?
From July 1, 2026, the 15-day review deadline applies to LTB decisions and orders issued on or after that date. A request to review must be submitted within 15 days unless the Board agrees to extend the time. A review by the LTB is different from an appeal to the Divisional Court, which follows its own separate process and timeline.
Will I still get compensation if my landlord wants the unit for personal use?
It depends on the notice. From September 21, 2026, a landlord who gives a proper "own use" notice with at least 120 days before the termination date, ending at the end of a tenancy period or fixed term, will not be required to pay the usual one month's compensation. If the notice does not meet those conditions, the compensation requirement still applies. Bad-faith protections remain: if the landlord does not move in, the tenant can still seek a remedy at the LTB.
A Note on Legal Information
This article provides general information about Bill 60 and the LTB in Ontario. It is not legal advice and does not create a paralegal-client relationship. Bill 60's changes are being proclaimed in stages and some related regulations are still being finalized, so the rules may continue to evolve. For advice about your specific situation, please consult a licensed paralegal or lawyer.
Get Help with Your LTB Matter
Whether you are a tenant or a landlord, the Bill 60 changes make it more important than ever to act early and get the process right. Lisa Duchene, a licensed paralegal serving Ontario, can review your situation and represent you at the Landlord and Tenant Board.