Government form, explained · Ontario
The N5: notice for interference, damage or overcrowding
The N5's full title is "Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage or Overcrowding." The rules change depending on whether it's the first N5 served in the past 6 months, or a second one, so which kind you're looking at matters more than almost anything else on the form.
A first N5: 20 days, with a 7-day void window
On a first N5, the LTB's instructions require that "the termination date on page 1 must be at least 20 days after you give the tenant this notice." Within that period, "the tenant will have 7 days to void the notice and avoid eviction."
Changes coming: the Landlord and Tenant Board says some changes took effect July 1, 2026, and others, under Bills 60 and 97, "are to take effect in September 2026." The LTB has not published which forms change or an exact date. We will update this page once the LTB does.
A second N5 within 6 months: 14 days, no void window
The rules tighten on a repeat notice: "If this is the tenant's second N5 Notice to End your Tenancy in the past 6 months … [the termination date] must be at least 14 days after you give the tenant this notice." There is no 7-day void window on a second N5, unlike the first.
What happens next
If a first N5 isn't voided within its 7 days, or it's a second N5 within 6 months, the landlord can apply to the LTB with the L2 application. Serving the notice does not end the tenancy by itself; only the Board can order that, after an application and, in most cases, a hearing.
Common mistakes
- ✗Getting the notice period wrong for which N5 it is: 20 days with a void window on a first N5, 14 days with none on a second within 6 months
- ✗Incomplete forms: the LTB warns plainly, "If you do not complete the form properly, your notice may not be valid and you may have to start over"
- ✗Assuming the N5 itself ends the tenancy: it doesn’t, only an LTB order following an L2 application can
- ✗Missing the 7-day void window on a first N5 before applying to the Board
Where to get it
Download the current N5 from tribunalsontario.ca, alongside the official instructions.
Common Questions
What is an N5 form?
The N5 is Ontario’s "Notice to End your Tenancy for Interfering with Others, Damage or Overcrowding." A landlord serves it when they say a tenant, another occupant, or a guest substantially interfered with others, caused undue damage, or the unit has too many occupants.
How much notice does a first N5 give?
The termination date on page 1 must be at least 20 days after the landlord gives the tenant the notice, and the tenant has a 7-day window to void the notice and avoid eviction on it.
What if it’s a second N5 within 6 months?
A second N5 in the past 6 months must give at least 14 days’ notice, and there is no 7-day void window: paying, apologizing, or fixing the problem does not cancel a second N5 the way it can a first one.
What happens if the N5 isn’t voided?
If a first N5 isn’t voided within its 7 days, or it’s a second N5 within 6 months, the landlord can apply to the LTB using the L2 application. The N5 itself does not end the tenancy.
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). Last updated: July 2026.