Ontario rental rules change as new tenant deadlines take effect

Changes to Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act take effect on Monday, introducing tighter timelines for some rentrelated disputes and eviction cases. The updates come from provincial housing legislation passed in two bills, part of the government’s effort to address delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board. Under the new rules, tenants who receive an N4 notice for unpaid rent now have seven days instead of 14 to pay before a landlord can apply for eviction. Tenants who want to raise other issues during an eviction hearing must also pay 50 per cent of the rent they allegedly owe first. The province has also set a formal definition for persistent late payment, and changed rules for some personaluse evictions. Landlord groups say the changes could help clarify the process, but they do not expect hearings to move faster. Tenant advocates argue the updates may make evictions easier while adding pressure to the system, potentially increasing backlogs rather than reducing them.