Need to get out of a lease?
Breaking a lease in Ontario
Ontario has a proper-notice route (Form N9), an assignment escape hatch that can shorten your notice, and a violence exit (Form N15).
How much notice for a periodic tenancy
To end a monthly or fixed-term tenancy, a tenant gives a Form N9 notice of at least 60 days, ending on the last day of a rental period or on the term-end date. For a weekly or daily tenancy the notice is 28 days. Add 5 days if you serve the notice by mail.
Fixed term: can it end early?
A fixed term normally runs to its end date. To end it on that date, give the N9 with at least 60 days of notice.
If a tenant leaves mid-term without proper notice, the published bound is that the tenant can be liable for the rent until the earlier of the day the unit is re-rented or the earliest date the tenancy could have ended on proper notice. This is the sourced liability bound, not a prediction of what you will owe.
Assignment and sublet
A tenant can ask the landlord to assign the tenancy. If the landlord refuses the assignment or does not answer within 7 days, the tenant may end the tenancy with an N9 giving at least 30 days of notice, filed no more than 30 days after the request. This is the escape hatch most people never find.
The violence exit
A tenant experiencing family or sexual violence can end the tenancy with a Form N15 on 28 days of notice, supported by a statement or a court order. The N15 does not have to give the landlord the reason.
If you are in danger, call 911. Support is also available across Canada through your local victim services.
If your landlord is in breach
Where a landlord is not meeting obligations, a tenant applies to the Landlord and Tenant Board rather than ending the tenancy by self-serve notice.
Official sources
This page tells you what the published rules and documents are. It does not predict what a landlord will agree to or how a tribunal will decide. Following the correct route helps avoid owing rent you did not have to, but nothing here guarantees a particular result. For advice on your situation, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer.
Common Questions
How much notice do I give to break my lease in Ontario?
For a monthly or fixed-term tenancy, a Form N9 gives at least 60 days of notice, ending on the last day of a rental period or the term-end date. A weekly or daily tenancy needs 28 days. Add 5 days if you serve by mail.
Can I get out of an Ontario lease early by assigning it?
You can ask your landlord to assign the tenancy. If the landlord refuses or does not answer within 7 days, you may end the tenancy with an N9 giving at least 30 days of notice, filed no more than 30 days after the request.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. This page is general information about the process for Ontario. The correct notice, documents, and route depend on your facts; for advice, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal or lawyer. Full disclaimer. Last updated: July 2026.