Government form, explained · Ontario
The N4: Ontario's notice to end a tenancy for non-payment of rent
The N4's full title is "N4 – Notice to End your Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent." A landlord serves it when rent is unpaid. Whether you received one or are thinking of serving one, the single most important thing to understand is what it is not: it is a notice, not an eviction.
What the N4 is
The N4 is the first step in the non-payment process under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act. It tells the tenant how much rent is owed and sets a termination date. Serving it costs nothing — it is a notice, not an application, and the LTB charges no fee for N-series notices.
On its own, the N4 changes nothing about who lives in the unit. It opens a window in which the tenant can pay and the tenancy simply continues, or the landlord can later apply to the Board if the rent stays unpaid.
The notice period
The termination date on the N4 must be, in the form's own words, "14 days after the landlord gives you the notice, if you rent by the month or year, or 7 days … if you rent by the day or week." Most tenancies are monthly, so the 14-day period is the usual one.
Coming later: under Bill 60, the N4 non-payment notice period for monthly and yearly tenancies is set to shorten from 14 days to 7 days, effective September 21, 2026. Until that date, the current period for a monthly tenancy remains 14 days.
How a tenant can void it by paying
Paying the amount owed by the termination date voids the N4 — the landlord cannot apply to the LTB on that notice, and the tenancy continues as if nothing happened.
Ontario's guidance goes a step further: even after the termination date, a tenant can still void the notice before the day the landlord applies to the Board, by paying all the rent owed plus any new rent that has come due since. Once the landlord has applied, this particular way of voiding no longer applies.
What happens next
"The earliest date that the landlord can apply to the Board is the day after the termination date in this notice." If the rent is still unpaid, the landlord can then file an L1 application, which leads to a hearing and, if granted, an order.
Even at that stage, no one is removed by the notice or the order alone. Only the LTB can order an eviction, and only the Court Enforcement Office (the Sheriff) can enforce it. If you are the tenant, that means you keep your rights and any hearing date until the process runs its course.
Common Questions
What is an N4 form?
The N4 is Ontario’s "Notice to End your Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent." A landlord serves it when rent is unpaid. It is a notice, not an eviction order — it starts a process; it does not, by itself, remove anyone.
How long does an N4 give you?
The termination date on the notice must be at least 14 days after the landlord gives it, if you rent by the month or year, or at least 7 days if you rent by the day or week. The earliest date the landlord can apply to the LTB is the day after that termination date.
Can a tenant stop an N4 by paying?
Yes. If the tenant pays the full amount owing by the termination date, the landlord cannot apply to the LTB on that notice — the N4 is void. Ontario’s guidance also lets a tenant void the notice before the day the landlord applies by paying all the rent owed plus any new rent that has since come due.
Does an N4 mean I have to move out?
No. An N4 on its own does not require anyone to leave, and it is not an eviction. Only the LTB can order an eviction after an application and hearing, and only the Court Enforcement Office (the Sheriff) can enforce that order.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. Residential tenancy rights are specific to your situation — for advice, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a legal clinic. Full disclaimer. Source: tribunalsontario.ca (LTB). Last updated: July 2026.