The landscape of Ontario real estate changed significantly with the passage of Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025. While much of the bill focuses on infrastructure and “as-of-right” zoning, the amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) represent a major shift in how the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) operates.
Whether you are a property manager looking to protect your investment or a tenant concerned about your security of tenure, here are the most relevant changes you need to know.
1. Shortened Eviction Timelines for Arrears
Perhaps the most immediate change is the reduction of the “grace period” for non-payment of rent.
- Before Bill 60: After receiving an N4 notice, tenants had 14 days to pay their arrears before a landlord could file an eviction application.
- Under Bill 60: This period has been cut in half to 7 days.
- Impact: Landlords can now get their applications into the LTB queue faster, but tenants have a significantly smaller window to secure emergency funding or rent-bank assistance.
2. New Restrictions on Tenant Defenses
A common practice at the LTB was for tenants to raise maintenance or harassment issues for the first time during a rent arrears hearing (under Section 82 of the RTA). Bill 60 has added a significant hurdle to this:
- The 50% Rule: Tenants may now be barred from raising these “set-off” issues at a hearing unless they have paid at least 50% of the claimed arrears to the Board in advance.
- Purpose: The government states this will prevent last-minute adjournments and ensure that maintenance claims aren’t used solely as a delay tactic.
3. Changes to “Landlord’s Own Use” (N12) Compensation
The rules for N12 evictions—where a landlord or their family intends to move into the unit—have been adjusted to encourage longer notice periods.
- New Incentive: If a landlord provides a tenant with at least 120 days’ notice (instead of the minimum 60 days), they are no longer required to pay the mandatory one month’s rent compensation.
- Standard Notice: If a landlord only provides the minimum 60 days’ notice, the one-month compensation requirement still applies.
4. Faster Appeals and Finality
In an effort to clear the backlog and prevent “bad actors” from dragging out cases, the window to challenge a decision is now much smaller.
- Review Deadline: The timeframe to request a review of an LTB order has been reduced from 30 days to 15 days.
- Limited Grounds: The LTB’s ability to review its own decisions is being narrowed, making the initial hearing more critical than ever.
5. Defining “Persistent Late Payment”
Bill 60 introduces a regulatory framework to finally define what constitutes “persistent late payment.” Previously, this was a “grey area” left to adjudicator discretion. New regulations (expected throughout 2026) will provide a clearer definition, allowing for more consistent rulings when a tenant is repeatedly—but not necessarily consecutively—late with rent.
What Hasn’t Changed?
Despite initial proposals that caused concern among tenant advocacy groups, two fundamental protections remain:
- Automatic Month-to-Month: Tenancies still automatically convert to month-to-month after a fixed term ends.
- Rent Control: For buildings first occupied before November 15, 2018, the annual rent increase guideline still applies.
Official Resources
For the full text of the legislation and official government updates, you can visit the following links:
- Official Bill 60 Legislation – Legislative Assembly of Ontario
- Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025 (News Release)
Disclaimer: This blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws are complex and subject to change. Always consult with a licensed legal professional or the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) regarding specific situations.
