Ontario LTB Applications and Hearings: What to Expect
A landlord–tenant dispute may lead to an application before Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board. The process can feel unfamiliar, but it becomes easier to prepare when you understand the main stages: selecting a form, filing correctly, receiving notices, exchanging relevant evidence and attending any scheduled hearing.
Before filing
Choose the application appropriate to the relief being sought. Official forms have specific instructions, prerequisites and fees. The LTB warns that incomplete or incorrectly prepared applications may be dismissed. Keep your own copies of submitted forms and supporting documents.
Preparing for a hearing
If the Board schedules a hearing, read the notice carefully. It explains key logistical and procedural information. Organise a timeline and identify evidence that supports each important fact. Follow the current rules for sharing material with the Board and other participants; do not assume that a document stored in an app has been officially filed.
At the hearing
The adjudicator generally explains the process, hears the applicant, allows the respondent to answer and may ask questions or consider witnesses. The exact sequence varies by case. The Board’s written decision is an order, distinct from a notice or the initial application.
A special caution for rent-arrears disputes
Ontario changed certain rent-arrears hearing rules effective September 21, 2026, including requirements applicable when tenants seek to raise other issues. Check whether these requirements apply based on the application’s filing date and the latest Board instructions; do not rely on old online summaries.
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- LTB: Application and hearing process (opens in a new tab)
- LTB: Important information about your hearing (opens in a new tab)
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and forms change; check the current official instructions before acting. Lease Case is independent of the Landlord and Tenant Board.