FAQ

Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, is Ontario legislation that amends the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). Several of its changes affecting non-payment of rent proceedings take effect on September 21, 2026. Other provisions (such as the shorter Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) review window and the mandatory payment agreement form) came into force earlier, on July 1, 2026.

Three main changes affect rent-related cases:

• The N4 notice period is reduced from 14 days to 7 days.
• “Persistent late payment of rent” now has a specific legal definition for the first time.
• Tenants must pay at least 50% of claimed rent arrears before raising certain Section 82 issues (e.g., maintenance complaints) as a defence at a non-payment hearing.

The minimum notice period on an N4 (Notice to End a Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent) drops from 14 days to 7 days. This is the minimum time a landlord must give before applying to the LTB for an eviction order (L1 Application) for unpaid rent.

Yes - the window to pay outstanding rent (or arrange a payment plan) before a landlord can file an L1 Application is shorter. Tenants who fall behind on rent should contact their property manager as early as possible to discuss payment options, since there is less time to resolve arrears before formal proceedings can begin.

Yes. Paying the full amount owing before an L1 Application is filed, or reaching an agreement with the landlord, can resolve the N4 Notice without escalation to the LTB.

For the first time, the RTA regulations set a specific threshold: rent is considered “late” once it remains unpaid more than seven (7) days after the due date, and a pattern becomes “persistent” when this happens at least three (3) times within any six (6)-consecutive-month period. This definition is used to support an N8 notice (ending a tenancy for persistent late payment at the end of the term).

Yes. Late payments that occurred before the effective date can still be counted, as long as they fall within the relevant rolling 6-month period being assessed.

It depends. The regulation is not exhaustive but rather a guideline when making decisions. The LTB adjudicator retains discretion to find persistent late payment in other circumstances not specifically listed, based on factors such as the length of the tenancy and the tenant's individual circumstances. The new definition sets a clear minimum standard but does not replace the Board's broader judgment.

No. Meeting the definition allows a landlord to issue an N8 Notice and apply to the LTB, but eviction is never automatic. The Board still holds a hearing and considers the full circumstances before issuing an eviction order. Paying rent on time going forward, and communicating with the landlord about any difficulties, remains the best way to avoid this becoming an issue.

Under Section 82 of the RTA, tenants can raise issues such as maintenance problems or interference with reasonable enjoyment as part of their defence at an eviction hearing. Starting September 21, 2026, a tenant must pay at least 50% of the rent arrears claimed in the application - made to the landlord or the LTB, at least seven (7) days before the hearing - before raising certain Section 82 issues.

No, but it adds a financial condition to doing so at a non-payment hearing specifically. Tenants can still raise maintenance or other issues with the LTB separately through their own application. Tenants who are behind on rent and have unresolved maintenance concerns should speak with their landlord and consider getting independent legal advice.

This is intended to reduce the use of unrelated Section 82 counterclaims to delay non-payment hearings, giving landlords more procedural predictability where a tenant is acting in bad faith. It does not change a landlord's underlying maintenance obligations - well-documented, promptly addressed maintenance requests remain the best protection against a Section 82 defence.

Yes. A few other changes are worth being aware of:

• LTB review window: shortened from 30 to 15 days to request a review of an order (already in force since July 1, 2026).
• Mandatory payment agreement form: the LTB now requires a standardized form for rent repayment agreements (already in force since July 1, 2026).
• N12 Notice: landlords may waive the one-month compensation requirement if they provide at least 120 days' notice instead; bad-faith N12 evictions carry significantly higher maximum RTA fines.

Contact your landlord as soon as you believe you may not be able to pay rent on time, ideally before or immediately after receiving an N4 Notice. Act quickly given the shorter seven (7)-day notice period. It is always best to submit a partial payment when full payment isn’t possible right away, and discuss payment options with your landlord to resolve the balance of the arrears. You can also contact your local legal clinic or Rent Bank for payment assistance.

Review internal timelines for N4 issuance, mailing, and L1 filing against the new seven (7)-day minimum; confirm updated LTB forms are in use once finalized; ensure maintenance requests are logged and addressed promptly to reduce Section 82 exposure; and track late-payment history so persistent late payment cases can be documented against the new 3-in-6-months standard.

The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and its regulations are available at www.ontario.ca/laws. The Landlord and Tenant Board publishes guides, forms, and updates at www.tribunalsontario.ca/ltb. For questions about how these changes apply to a specific tenancy managed by Del Condominium Rentals, please contact your designated Client Experience Specialist.