Understanding the Proposed Changes to Ontario’s Rental Rules

Ontario’s rental market may soon experience some of the biggest procedural changes in recent years. Bill 60—officially called the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025—was introduced by the Ontario government with the goal of reducing delays at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and speeding up rental dispute resolutions.

The bill has generated significant discussion among both landlords and tenants because it proposes changes that may affect:

• eviction timelines
• LTB hearing procedures
• non-payment cases
• N12 notices
• tenant defenses
• review deadlines

As of now, some amendments under Bill 60 have received Royal Assent but are not yet fully in force. The LTB has stated that implementation updates will be provided once the changes officially take effect.

Still, many landlords and tenants are already preparing for how these potential changes could affect Ontario’s rental market.

Why Was Bill 60 Introduced?

One of the main reasons behind Bill 60 is the growing backlog at Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board.

Over the past several years, both landlords and tenants have experienced long wait times for hearings and decisions, especially in:

• non-payment disputes
• eviction applications
• maintenance complaints
• tenant applications

The Ontario government says Bill 60 is intended to:

• reduce delays
• streamline procedures
• speed up hearings
• improve efficiency at the LTB.

Supporters believe faster decisions could reduce financial strain for both landlords and tenants.

Critics, however, argue that some proposed changes may reduce protections for vulnerable tenants. a

One Major Change: Shorter Timelines for Non-Payment Cases

One of the most discussed parts of Bill 60 involves non-payment of rent cases.

Currently, when a landlord serves an N4 notice for unpaid rent, tenants generally have 14 days to pay before the landlord can file an eviction application with the LTB.

Under Bill 60, that timeline may be reduced to 7 days. 

This means:

• landlords may be able to move applications forward faster
• tenants may have less time to respond or catch up on arrears

For landlords dealing with significant unpaid rent, this could potentially reduce delays.

For tenants facing financial difficulty, however, the shorter timeline may create additional pressure.

Changes to Tenant Defences at Hearings

Another major proposed change involves tenant defences during non-payment hearings.

In the past, tenants could raise issues such as:

• maintenance problems
• repair issues
• harassment complaints

during rent arrears hearings at the LTB.

Under Bill 60, tenants may be required to first pay at least 50% of the claimed rent arrears before certain maintenance-related defences can be fully considered at the hearing. 

The government says this is intended to reduce delays and discourage last-minute hearing adjournments.

Critics argue that the rule could make it harder for financially struggling tenants to raise legitimate concerns.

Potential Changes to N12 “Landlord’s Own Use” Notices

Bill 60 also proposes changes involving N12 notices.

Currently, landlords who evict tenants for personal use are generally required to provide:

• at least 60 days’ notice
• one month’s compensation

Under the proposed Bill 60 framework, landlords who provide 120 days’ notice may no longer be required to provide the one-month compensation payment.

This proposed change has become one of the more controversial aspects of the bill.

Supporters argue it encourages longer notice periods.

Critics worry it may weaken tenant protections in personal-use eviction situations.

Shorter Review and Appeal Deadlines

Bill 60 may also shorten the timeline for requesting reviews of LTB decisions.

Currently, parties often have 30 days to request a review.

Under Bill 60, that review period may be reduced to 15 days.

For both landlords and tenants, this means:

• faster action may become necessary
• missed deadlines could become more serious
• preparation and documentation may become even more important

Documentation Is Becoming More Important Than Ever

One thing both landlords and tenants may need to prepare for is a more documentation-driven rental environment.

As LTB procedures potentially become faster and more structured, organized records may become increasingly important, including:

• payment records
• emails and communication logs
• maintenance requests
• inspection documentation
• notices and timelines
• repair records

For both sides, strong documentation may help reduce misunderstandings and support applications more effectively during hearings.

What This Could Mean for Landlords

For landlords, Bill 60 may potentially:

• reduce waiting times
• speed up non-payment applications
• improve hearing efficiency
• create faster dispute resolution

However, landlords will still need to:

• follow proper notice procedures
• maintain documentation
• comply with the Residential Tenancies Act
• avoid bad-faith applications

Even with faster timelines, procedural mistakes may still create delays or application problems.

What This Could Mean for Tenants

For tenants, the proposed changes may increase the importance of:

• responding quickly to notices
• understanding legal timelines
• keeping records organized
• communicating early about issues

As timelines potentially become shorter, delays in responding to notices or hearings may carry greater consequences than before.

Why Professional Property Management Matters

As Ontario’s rental environment becomes increasingly process-driven, both landlords and tenants are facing more procedural complexity.

At Topromanage, we help GTA property owners with:

• tenant communication
• notice coordination
• maintenance management
• documentation organization
• inspection support
• ongoing property management

Strong organization and proactive communication can help reduce misunderstandings and improve overall rental management efficiency.

Final Thoughts

Bill 60 represents one of the most significant proposed procedural shifts to Ontario’s rental system in recent years.

While supporters believe the changes may help reduce LTB backlogs and speed up dispute resolution, critics continue raising concerns about how the changes may affect tenant protections.

As Ontario’s rental landscape continues evolving, both landlords and tenants may need to become more aware of timelines, procedures, and documentation requirements moving forward. 

Source: Legislative Assembly of Ontario, LTB

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