The L1: the LTB application to evict for unpaid rent
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The L1's full title is "L1 – Application to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent and to collect rent the tenant owes." It is the step a landlord takes after an N4 notice when the rent is still unpaid, the point at which the Landlord and Tenant Board becomes involved.
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What the L1 is and what it costs
Open this section ↓Unlike the N4 (a notice, which is free to serve), the L1 is an application to the Board, and it carries a fee: "$201 or $186 through Tribunals Ontario Portal." The lower amount applies when it is filed online through the portal; the higher amount applies by mail or in person. LTB fees are non-refundable.
The application asks the Board both to end the tenancy for non-payment and to order the tenant to pay the rent owed.
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Timing: it follows the N4
The L1 cannot be filed until the day after the termination date on the N4 notice.Open this section ↓The L1 cannot be filed until the day after the termination date on the N4 notice. Before that, the tenant still has the chance to void the N4 by paying, which is why the notice period and the application timing are linked.
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The process, end to end
The chain is: notice → application → hearing → order → enforcement.Open this section ↓The chain is: notice → application → hearing → order → enforcement. The L1 leads to a hearing, where both sides can be heard, and then to an order if the Board grants it.
To raise other issues at the hearing, such as maintenance, the tenant must pay the landlord half of the arrears claimed in the application at least seven days before the hearing. It must be paid to the landlord directly, not to the LTB.
↑ Close this sectionAn order is still not a removal. "Only the Sheriff can evict a tenant,"and "an eviction order can only be enforced by the Court Enforcement Office." For a tenant, that means there is time and process at every stage; for a landlord, it means self-help removals are unlawful.
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What changed on July 1, 2026
Per the LTB's Operational Update (published June 30, 2026), three changes took effect that touch non-payment applications:Open this section ↓Per the LTB's Operational Update (published June 30, 2026), three changes took effect that touch non-payment applications:
- The window to request a review of an order was shortened from 30 days to 15 days.
- The Payment Agreement form is now mandatory for repayment plans under s.206.
- Maximum fines under RTA s.236 increased for offences such as illegal evictions and bad-faith notices. The current maximums are in the LTB update linked below.
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Common Questions
What is an L1 application?Open this section ↓↑ Close this sectionWhat is an L1 application?
The L1 is Ontario’s "Application to evict a tenant for non-payment of rent and to collect rent the tenant owes." A landlord files it with the LTB after serving an N4 notice, if the rent stays unpaid.
How much does an L1 cost to file?
The LTB fee is "$201 or $186 through Tribunals Ontario Portal": the lower amount when filed online through the portal, the higher amount by mail or in person. LTB fees are non-refundable.
When can a landlord file the L1 after an N4?
The earliest the landlord can file is the day after the termination date on the N4. Filing feeds into a hearing; the tenant can still resolve the arrears up to the point the landlord applies.
What happens after the L1, does the landlord evict directly?
No. The process is notice → application → hearing → order → enforcement. "Only the Sheriff can evict a tenant," and "an eviction order can only be enforced by the Court Enforcement Office." A landlord who removes a tenant or their belongings themselves is acting illegally.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. For advice on a specific tenancy, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a legal clinic. Full disclaimer. Source: tribunalsontario.ca (LTB). Facts checked October 2026.