Guides
rent-protection-insurance
How rent protection (rent default) insurance fills the gap between landlord and tenant insurance in Ontario, what it typically covers, and how it fits the N4-to-LTB non-payment path.
ltb-divisional-court-appeal
The difference between requesting an LTB review and appealing to Divisional Court, when each applies, and why a Divisional Court appeal only reviews questions of law — not the facts of your case.
ltb-filing
Tenants can file T1, T2, T5, and T6 applications against Ontario landlords, each worth up to $50,000. Run your rental like a business, use notices correctly, and document everything to protect yourself.
bill-60
What Bill 60 changes for Ontario landlords under the Residential Tenancies Act — notice timing, LTB hearings, arrears disputes, and what stayed the same.
cash-for-keys
How Ontario landlords set a fair cash-for-keys amount, put the agreement in writing, and avoid the mistakes that undo an otherwise faster exit than an LTB filing under the RTA.
commercial-tenancy
Commercial tenancies in Ontario fall outside the Residential Tenancies Act, so commercial landlords can use a licensed bailiff to resolve non-payment in days, not months — without waiting on an LTB hearing.
ltb-filing
How Ontario landlords prepare evidence and respond when a tenant files a T1, T2, T5, or T6 application at the LTB, and how to avoid the conduct that triggers each one.
ending-tenancy-by-notice-or-agreement
How the N9 (tenant's notice) and N11 (mutual agreement) end an Ontario tenancy, how they differ from a landlord's N12 or N13, and how to serve either one so it actually holds up.
arrears
Winning at the LTB doesn't collect your money — the LTB can't enforce monetary orders. File your order at Small Claims Court, then garnish wages (20% per paycheque) or bank accounts to recover rent arrears.
vacant-rental-insurance-gap
Why a standard Ontario landlord policy can suspend coverage once a rental sits vacant, and the steps — vacancy permits, endorsements, disclosure — that keep it in force.
municipal-rental-licensing
A growing number of Ontario municipalities require landlords to license or register a rental unit — how the application, inspection, and fee process typically works, and how it fits alongside the RTA.
n13-renoviction-process
How Ontario's N13 notice works for renovation, repair, and demolition evictions — the grounds, the good-faith requirement, permits, and the tenant's right to return.
eviction
Ontario landlords use the N4 form to start the process when rent is late, and the N12 to reclaim a unit for personal or family use. An N4 can be served the day after rent is due; an N12 requires at least 60 days' notice and one month's compensation to the tenant.
basement-apartment
A legal Ontario basement apartment needs municipal permits, 6'10¾" ceiling clearance over 75% of the space, a separate exterior entrance, fire separation, egress windows sized to at least 5% of bedroom floor area, and disclosed insurance coverage. Legalizing typically runs $20,000–$50,000.
eviction-process
A landlord's reference to Ontario's eviction process: the three legal ways a tenancy ends, which N-notice applies, LTB timelines, sheriff enforcement, and what makes an application fail.
abandoned-property
Ontario landlords can't assume a rental unit is abandoned just because a tenant seems to have vanished. The law requires checking two things — whether belongings remain and whether rent is still being paid — before taking any action, and changing locks without following the legal process can create real liability.
landlord-court-options
When the Landlord and Tenant Board can't hear your case, Ontario landlords still have three legal paths: Small Claims Court (up to $50,000 as of October 2025), Superior Court for larger or complex disputes, and Provincial Offences Court for tenant interference — each suited to a different kind of problem.
landlord-legal-essentials
An orientation to Ontario landlord law: the RTA framework, the three legal ways to evict, the rules when a tenant dies, the LTB's role, and how to collect after an order.
occupants-and-guests
Ontario tenants can host guests, add occupants, or bring in roommates for any length of time without landlord permission — the Residential Tenancies Act doesn't require it. The one rule that protects you: never accept rent directly from anyone but your named tenant.
lease-clauses
In Ontario, first and last month's rent is the only deposit a landlord can legally collect — separate damage deposits and pet fees aren't enforceable, even if a tenant signs a lease agreeing to them, and tenants can demand that money back years later. This guide covers which lease clauses actually hold up.
n13-renovation-eviction
Evicting a Toronto tenant for renovations requires more than an N13: an N13 filing (a filing fee applies — check the current LTB fee schedule), a City of Toronto renovation license, tenant compensation, and a professional report proving vacant possession is genuinely required — plus a right of return once work is done.
landlord-protection
Small landlords who own six or fewer rental units can be financially ruined by a single bad tenancy — the same loss a large operator simply absorbs. This guide covers the risks small landlords face at the Landlord and Tenant Board, why police often won't intervene, and free support built for independent owners.
ontario-standard-lease
Ontario landlords lose thousands of dollars to avoidable Standard Lease errors: missing the 21-day delivery deadline, mischecking the utilities box, overcharging key deposits, and assuming fixed lease end dates or guarantor agreements hold up in court. This guide walks through the most common Ontario Standard Lease mistakes and how landlords can avoid each one.
realtor-tenant-placement
What an Ontario realtor is and isn't responsible for when placing a tenant — screening scope, RECO/brokerage duties, and what landlords should verify themselves.
schedule-b-additional-terms
A signed Schedule B clause isn't automatically enforceable in Ontario — it's void the moment it conflicts with the Residential Tenancies Act, no matter what the tenant agreed to in writing.
property-management
How Ontario landlords decide between self-managing a rental and hiring a property manager — what a manager actually does, the signals it's time to hire, and what to ask before signing.
ltb-hearing-process
An Ontario LTB hearing rarely goes as landlords expect: wait times run 3 to 4 months, a scheduled date doesn't guarantee you'll be heard, and tenants can raise Section 82 maintenance defenses or Section 83 requests for more time — even in strong non-payment cases. Here's what actually happens and how to protect your outcome.
tenant-death
When an Ontario tenant dies, the Residential Tenancies Act (Section 91) ends the tenancy automatically 30 days later. Landlords must secure the unit, safeguard the tenant's belongings, and grant access to the estate — while only a spouse can automatically continue the lease. This guide covers the timeline, special cases, and how to protect yourself.
good-tenant-gone-bad
How Ontario landlords should spot the early warning signs of a tenant relationship going sideways, document properly, and decide when to escalate beyond a conversation.
landlord-protection
Call police for safety threats — violence, criminal activity, domestic disturbances — and always request a report. For rent, damage, or standard evictions, use the LTB instead; police will redirect you there.
landlord-protection
The essentials every Ontario landlord should know: tenant screening, the Residential Tenancies Act, and protecting your rental income.