Landlord & Tenant Rights in Ontario (2026)
Rent increases, eviction notices, security deposits, and dispute resolution: everything landlords and tenants need to know in Ontario.
Ontario landlord-tenant guide
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Where to File a Dispute in Ontario
Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB)
https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/Filing fee: L1/L2 landlord applications: $186 online or $201 by mail/in person; tenant application fees vary by application type
Legislation: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Rent Increases in Ontario
Rent increases are limited
Rent increase guideline applies to units first occupied before November 15, 2018. Units built after that date are exempt.
Current guideline: 2.5% for 2024; 2.5% for 2025; 2.1% for 2026; 1.9% for 2027
Calculate the maximum increase for Ontario →Notice required for a rent increase: 90 days' written notice before effective date using Form N1
Eviction & Notice to End Tenancy
Month-to-month tenancy
60 days' notice, ending on the last day of a rental period
Fixed-term tenancy
Fixed-term automatically continues month-to-month unless tenant gives 60 days' notice before end date
Important forms & details
Form N4 (non-payment): 14 days (7-day cure). Form N5 (damage/conduct/overcrowding): 20 days + 7-day remedy. Form N6 (illegal act): 10-20 days. Form N7 (serious impairment of safety): 10 days. Form N8 (end of term): 60 days. Form N12 (own-use/purchaser): 60 days. Cause notices are specific LTB forms, not a flat 60 days.
Landlord entry: 24 hours' written notice for most entry; no notice for emergency
Not sure which notice or application fits?
Guidepost
Before we begin
Generating: landlord and tenant
Guidepost generates document templates and step-by-step process guides based on your answers. We are not a law firm, and nothing we provide is legal advice.
The documents you receive are templates designed to cover typical situations and meet standard provincial requirements, but every situation is different.
If your situation is complex, the notice period is disputed, or the situation involves domestic circumstances, consult a lawyer or notary in your province before completing the transaction.
By continuing you acknowledge that Guidepost provides informational document templates only, and that you are not receiving legal advice.
Deposits in Ontario
Security Deposit
Security deposits are NOT permitted in Ontario. Only a last month's rent deposit and a key deposit (actual key replacement cost) are allowed.
Last Month's Rent
Allowed up to one month's rent. Landlord must pay annual interest at the rent increase guideline rate.
Pet Deposit
Pet deposits are NOT permitted. No-pet clauses are unenforceable. Landlords can pursue pet damage through the LTB.
Key Forms & Documents: Ontario
N1
Notice of Rent Increase
N4
Notice to End Tenancy for Non-Payment of Rent
N5
Notice to End Tenancy: Interfering with Others / Damage / Overcrowding
N8
Notice to End Tenancy at End of Period or Fixed Term
N11
Agreement to End Tenancy (mutual)
N12
Notice to End Tenancy: Landlord's Own Use or Purchaser's Own Use
T2
Application About Tenant Rights (tenant files)
T6
Application About Maintenance (tenant files)
Ontario-specific things to know
- •Landlords must use the Ontario Standard Lease Form for most residential tenancies.
- •If landlord does not provide the standard lease within 21 days of tenant request, tenant may withhold one month's rent.
- •N12 (landlord's own use) requires one month's rent compensation paid on or before the termination date.
- •Tenants can dispute an N12 by filing a T5 if they believe the landlord is acting in bad faith.
- •LTB backlogs are significant, expect several months for a hearing.
- •Forward note: Bill 60 shortens the N4 non-payment notice period from 14 days to 7 days effective September 21, 2026.
Common Questions
Can a landlord evict me without reason in Ontario?
Generally no. Ontario landlords need a valid reason (non-payment, damage, landlord's own use, etc.) and must follow the notice requirements in the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. An eviction without proper grounds can be challenged at the LTB.
What can a landlord deduct from my security deposit?
Ontario does not permit security deposits. Security deposits are NOT permitted in Ontario. Only a last month's rent deposit and a key deposit (actual key replacement cost) are allowed.
How do I file a complaint against my landlord (or tenant) in Ontario?
File an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board at https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/. Filing fee: L1/L2 landlord applications: $186 online or $201 by mail/in person; tenant application fees vary by application type. Gather your evidence (lease, notices, photos, messages) before filing.
My landlord wants to enter without notice. Is that legal?
In most cases, no. Ontario requires 24 hours' written notice for most entry; no notice for emergency. Entry without notice (except for emergencies) is generally a breach of the tenant's right to quiet enjoyment and can be raised as a complaint at the LTB.
Official sources
Last updated: July 2026
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