My tenant stopped paying rent
First, serve the correct notice for your province. The process only starts once proper notice is given. Second, know the timeline: a notice comes first, then an application to the tribunal, then a hearing and order. Third, remember what you cannot do: there is no self-help eviction anywhere in Canada, and skipping the process can cost you far more than the arrears.
Self-help is never legal
Changing the locks, removing a tenant's belongings, or shutting off utilities is illegal in every province, even when the rent is genuinely unpaid. The tenancy ends only through the tribunal, and an eviction is carried out only by the Sheriff or court enforcement office.
The process, by province
Ontario
Serve an N4, then, the day after its termination date, if rent is still unpaid, file an L1. The chain is notice → application → hearing → order → enforcement. "Only the Sheriff can evict a tenant."
In force since September 21, 2026. Ontario’s minimum N4 notice period was shortened from 14 to 7 days for notices given on or after September 21, 2026 (Bill 60). The current Form N4 applies the same 7-day minimum to every tenancy, whether you rent by the month, the year, the week or the day.
British Columbia
Serve a 10 Day Notice for unpaid rent (RTB-30). If the tenant neither pays nor disputes within 5 days, the landlord can proceed, including through a direct request application to the RTB.
Alberta
Non-payment is a substantial breach, handled with at least 14 days’ notice, and disputes go to the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS). Its fee is $75 for claims of $7,500 or less and $150 for claims over $7,500 (court fees apply if filed in court instead).
Quebec
A landlord can apply to the Tribunal administratif du logement (TAL) to terminate the lease once "the lessee is over three weeks late in paying the rent." The tenant can still avoid termination by paying the rent owing (plus costs and interest) before the TAL decides.
Manitoba
Applications go to the Residential Tenancies Branch: an Application for Order of Possession is $60.00, and a Landlord or Tenant Claim for Compensation is $50.00. The Act does not set a fixed notice length for non-payment. The Branch is the route to end the tenancy.
Other provinces
In the remaining provinces the notice period and application differ, and each province’s tribunal sets them. Start with yours for the correct notice and filing route.
Common Questions
What can I do if my tenant stops paying rent in Ontario?
The lawful sequence is: serve an N4 notice, then, the day after its termination date if the rent is still unpaid, file an L1 application with the LTB. That leads to a hearing, an order, and, only if the tenant does not leave, enforcement by the Sheriff (Court Enforcement Office).
Can a landlord evict a tenant themselves for unpaid rent?
No. There is no self-help eviction anywhere in Canada. A landlord cannot change the locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities. Ending a tenancy for non-payment goes through the province’s tribunal, and an eviction is enforced only by the Sheriff or court enforcement office.
How does non-payment work outside Ontario?
The trigger and notice differ: BC uses a 10 Day Notice (RTB-30) and a direct request; Alberta uses a 14-day non-payment notice and the RTDRS; Quebec lets a landlord apply to the TAL once the tenant is over three weeks late. Each province’s tribunal is linked below.
Where to go from here
Guidepost is not a law firm, and this is general information, not legal advice. The correct notice, timeline, and application depend on your province and facts; for advice, contact your provincial tribunal or a paralegal/lawyer. Full disclaimer. Facts checked September 2026.