What Ontario Tenants and Landlords Should Know About the New RTA Changes:

Ontario’s rental housing system has gone through an important update with the introduction of Bill 60, which brings several amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and the procedures at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). These changes affect how disputes are handled, how quickly applications move forward, and what rights and responsibilities both parties must follow.

This writing explains the updates in clear, easy-to-understand language so tenants and landlords can prepare for the new rules:

1. Faster Action on Missed Rent Payments: One of the biggest changes is the new timeline for unpaid rent.

Before Bill 60:
Landlords had to wait 14 days before issuing a notice for non-payment.

Now under Bill 60:
Landlords may issue the notice after 7 days.

This gives tenants less time to catch up on late payments and makes the eviction process move much faster if the rent remains unpaid.

2. Updates to “Landlord’s Own Use” Evictions

a. Bill 60 introduces new rules for situations where a landlord wants to move into the rental unit or have a close family member live there.

b. In some cases, landlords no longer need to pay the tenant one month’s rent as compensation, as long as proper notice is given and the requirements of the RTA are met.

This change may lead to more personal-use eviction applications, especially in tight rental markets.

3. New Rule for Tenants Raising Issues at LTB Hearings

A major change affects tenants who want to raise repair or maintenance problems during a hearing about unpaid rent. Under Bill 60, a tenant must now pay at least 50% of the rent arrears before the LTB considers those additional issues.

This means tenants need to be prepared financially when attending these hearings or their concerns may not be heard.

4. Deadline to Request a Review Has Been Shortened

a. Previously, parties had 30 days to request a review or reconsideration of an LTB decision.

b. Bill 60 reduces this timeframe to 15 days.

Because of this shorter deadline, tenants and landlords must act quickly if they believe an order was made in error.

5. Persistent Late Payment May Become a New Ground for Eviction

Bill 60 allows the government to set new rules for what counts as paying rent late too often. When these rules take effect, tenants who regularly pay late, even if they eventually pay, could face eviction.

Both tenants and landlords should keep clear records of rent payments and discuss any problems as soon as possible.

How These Changes Affect Tenants and Landlords

For Tenants

• Less time to pay late rent
• Stricter requirements to raise repair issues
• Shorter appeal periods
• Increased risk of personal-use evictions

Tenants should seek legal help early if they receive notices or have concerns about their housing situation.

For Landlords

• Faster timelines for non-payment issues
• Simpler process for personal-use evictions
• Potential new eviction ground for chronic late payment
• More efficient hearing scheduling expected

Landlords must still follow all notice requirements and RTA procedures carefully to avoid legal complications.

Final Thoughts

Bill 60 represents a major shift in Ontario’s rental housing framework. The reforms aim to reduce delays at the LTB, but they also create tighter timelines and higher expectations for both landlords and tenants.

Understanding these changes is essential to avoiding mistakes and protecting your rights.

If you are a tenant or landlord navigating an issue under the new rules, I can assist with applications, notices, hearing preparation, and guidance through the LTB process.

Another Big change for LTB:

Under section 207(1) of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the “RTA”), the monetary limits of the Small Claims Court and the LTB are linked. As a result, the increase in the Small Claims Court limit will automatically raise the LTB’s financial cap from $35,000 to $50,000.

This change will benefit landlords seeking to recover rent arrears or other monetary claims at the LTB. With rising rental prices and ongoing delays at the Board, many landlords have recently found themselves nearing the $35,000 jurisdictional ceiling and in some cases, giving up amounts above that limit just to have their matters resolved more quickly or to avoid initiating proceedings in the Superior Court, which can be far more expensive.

As of October 1, 2025, the updated monetary limit is in place, raising the LTB’s maximum fine authority to $50,000.