What changed on September 21, 2026
For N4 notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date in the notice can be as early as the seventh day after the notice is given. Before that date the minimum was 14 days. The LTB also published a new version of the N4 form for notices given from that date; a notice on an old form, or with the wrong termination date, can be defective.
The change shortens the first step only. It does not let a landlord lock a tenant out, and it does not change who decides an eviction.
What an N4 does, and does not do
- An N4 is a notice, not an order. It tells the tenant how much rent the landlord says is owing and gives a date by which to pay or move out.
- If the tenant stays past the termination date, the landlord's next step is an L1 application to the Landlord and Tenant Board. Only an LTB order, enforced by the Sheriff, can remove a tenant.
- The tenant does not have to move out on the termination date. Many tenants stay, pay what they can and attend the hearing.
If you are the tenant
Check the arithmetic and the dates. The notice must state the rent period and the amount owing correctly. Count the days from the day you received it, not the day it was signed.
Paying voids the notice. If you pay all the arrears listed (plus any rent that has come due since) before the landlord files the L1, the notice is void and the landlord has to start again. Paying later can still stop the eviction, but the rules become stricter once an application is filed and after an order is made. Keep proof of every payment.
If you also have maintenance or other complaints, note the new rule for arrears applications filed on or after September 21: to raise those issues at the hearing, you must pay the landlord directly at least half of the claimed arrears at least 7 days before the hearing, keep a receipt, and give the landlord and the LTB a written description of the issues. The right route for repair problems is a T6 application; withholding rent is not.
Do not ignore the hearing notice. Tenant Duty Counsel is available at LTB hearings through Legal Aid Ontario and ACTO, and a licensed paralegal can represent you.
If you are the landlord
Use the form valid on the day you give it. The new N4 must not be used for notices given before September 21, 2026, and the old one should not be used after. The LTB will stop accepting earlier versions of several other forms after November 30, 2026, so download fresh copies rather than reusing saved files.
Serve it properly and keep a record. How and when the notice was given decides when the 7 days start. File a Certificate of Service with the L1.
Be ready for the hearing. Bring the ledger, the notice, proof of service and any payments received after the notice. If the tenant pays the full arrears before you file, the notice is void and you cannot proceed on it.
Common questions
Can my landlord change the locks after 7 days? No. A lockout without an LTB order and Sheriff enforcement is illegal, whatever the notice says.
I received the notice on a Friday. When does the week end? Count seven days starting the day after you received it; the termination date in the notice must be at least that far away. If it is earlier, the notice may be invalid.
Does the 7-day rule apply to a notice given in August 2026? No. Notices given before September 21 keep the 14-day minimum.
This article is general information about Ontario law as of its publication date, not legal advice. For your own notice and dates, ask before you act.
Official sources
- LTB operational update: legislative changes effective September 21, 2026
- Tribunals Ontario: Landlord and Tenant Board
- LTB brochure: How a landlord can end a tenancy
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- ACTO: Tenant Duty Counsel Program
This guide is general legal information about Ontario law as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Laws, forms and fees change; check the official sources before you act.