N4 Notice Ontario: What It Means and What Happens Next
An N4 is a landlord’s formal notice to end a tenancy early because rent has not been paid in full. It is an important legal notice, but it is not an immediate eviction order. A landlord normally uses it after rent becomes overdue while the tenant remains in the rental unit.
The September 2026 rule change
For N4 notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the minimum notice period is seven days. Notices given earlier were governed by different rules. When calculating the termination date, the day the notice is given is not counted, and permitted delivery methods have distinct rules for when service is effective. An older N4 PDF or general article may still show the former 14-day period; use the current official instructions and current form.
What must be accurate?
Confirm the tenant names, address, amount of rent owing, rental periods and termination date. The amounts shown in different parts of the form should reconcile with a dated rent ledger. Keep a copy and a record of how and when the notice was served. The LTB instructions state that posting an N4 to the unit door is not a permitted service method.
If the rent is paid
If the tenant pays the amount needed to void the notice within the prescribed period, the landlord cannot rely on that N4 to apply for eviction. If the notice is not voided, the landlord may be able to file an L1 application no earlier than the day after the termination date. The LTB—not the N4—decides whether an eviction order should be issued.
NEXT STEP
See how the N4 fits into the full rent arrears process.
Understand the Rent Arrears ProcessOFFICIAL SOURCES
- LTB: N4 notice instructions (opens in a new tab)
- LTB operational update: legislative changes effective September 21, 2026 (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.