Changes to law around Residential Tenancies now in effect

Recent amendments via Schedule 7 of Bill 97 and Schedule 12 of Bill 60 came into effect September 21, 2026. These are the major changes that will impact both landlords and tenants in Ontario:

1.      If a tenant falls behind on rent and is issued an N4 eviction notice, the tenant must pay the missed rent in 7 instead of 14 days. If they fail to pay within 7 days, the landlord can apply for an eviction. 

2.      If a landlord and tenant are scheduled for an eviction hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board, the tenant may raise their own issues regarding the landlord and the unit (e.g., landlord’s failure to provide necessary repairs) if they pay half of the rent they allegedly owe (50%).

3.      “Persistent late payment” is now formally defined under the Ontario Regulation 516/06, s. 8.1(1). “Persistent” is defined as rent being paid more than 7 days late at least 3 times over any 6-month period.

4.      If a landlord evicts a tenant for their family’s personal use, the new occupant must be named in the N12 Notice and they must move into the unit within 60 days, otherwise it will be presumed that the eviction was in bad faith.

5.      If a landlord evicts a tenant with a N12 Notice for their own use or their family’s personal use, they can waive the 1

month’s compensation requirement by providing the tenant 120 days’ notice.

*This is not legal advice. Please consult official Landlord and Tenant Board resources to confirm if these apply to you. If you need assistance with a matter at the Landlord and Tenant Board, call us at: 289-270-SAGE (289-270-7243)