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New Rental Rules: What Landlords and Tenants Should Know
A rental home matters to both sides. Tenants need a safe, stable place to live, and landlords need rent paid on time and their property cared for.
Ontario’s July 1 and September 21, 2026 changes to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) make it important to stay informed. Here are a few changes worth knowing. [1, 2]
Shorter deadlines. For orders issued from July 1 onward, the usual deadline to request an LTB review is now 15 days. From September 21, new N4 notices give monthly and yearly tenants seven days instead of 14 to address unpaid rent before a landlord can apply. [1, 2]
New hearing requirements. For rent arrears applications filed from September 21 onward, tenants wanting to raise maintenance or other tenant claims at that hearing must pay the landlord half the claimed arrears and provide written details of their issues at least seven days beforehand. [2]
Changes to personal-use notices. A landlord’s own-use N12 served from September 21 onward can avoid compensation if it gives at least 120 days’ notice with a valid termination date. This exception does not apply to purchaser’s own-use notices. [2]
More protection around returning after renovations. Where the new rules apply, tenants who preserve their right to return in writing must receive updates and at least 60 days to return once the unit is ready. [2]
For landlords, this means checking your notices, forms and records carefully. For tenants, it means reading what you receive and getting advice early.
These changes make it even more important to get the right guidance early. At Sethi Legal Services, we help both landlords and tenants understand their options, prepare the necessary notices and applications, and represent them before the Landlord and Tenant Board. We take the time to understand your situation and work toward a practical resolution.
References
[1] Tribunals Ontario. “LTB: Operational Update: Legislative Changes at the Landlord and Tenant Board.” June 30, 2026.
[2] Tribunals Ontario. “LTB: Operational Update: Legislative Changes at the Landlord and Tenant Board, Effective: September 21, 2026.” September 21, 2026.
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