Ontario’s Bill 60 introduces a series of updates to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA). The province positions these changes as a way to streamline Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) processes and bring more consistency to how disputes and notices are handled. At the same time, various tenant advocacy groups, legal clinics, and housing organizations have raised questions about how some of these updates may impact renters.
Regardless of perspective, understanding the changes is important for anyone involved in the rental market. Below is a breakdown of the most notable updates.
Shortened Timelines for Non-Payment of Rent Notices
Landlords can now issue a non-payment termination notice that takes effect as early as 7 days after service, compared to the previous 14-day minimum.
Additionally, the definition of “persistent late payment” will be determined later through regulation.
Why this matters:
Shorter timelines may speed up the process for landlords while also requiring tenants to act more quickly if they fall behind on rent.
New Exception for “Landlord’s Own Use” Compensation
Normally, when a tenant is asked to vacate because a landlord or their family member wishes to move in, or the unit will undergo an extensive renovation or demolished, the tenant is owed compensation or offered an alternate unit.
Bill 60 introduces an exception to these compensation rules if:
- the notice is issued after the bill comes into force
- the termination date is at least 120 days after the notice is served
- the termination date lines up with the end of a rental period or the end of a fixed-term lease
What this means:
Whether compensation is owed now depends on the timing and structure of the notice rather than the nature of the reason alone.
Standardized Eviction Notice Forms
Under Bill 60, all eviction or termination notices—whether issued by a landlord or a tenant—must use forms approved by the LTB or prescribed by regulation.
What this change aims to do:
Create consistency, reduce errors, and ensure required information is clearly included on all notices.
New Conditions for Tenants Raising Issues During Non-Payment Hearings
Tenants still have the right to raise concerns such as maintenance or repair issues during a non-payment eviction hearing. However, Bill 60 adds new requirements:
- Tenants must provide advance notice and follow procedural steps.
- Unless exempted by regulation, tenants must pay half of the rent arrears claimed, plus any additional amounts that may be set by regulation.
- These payments must be made before the hearing, within timelines that regulations will define.
Practical impact:
Tenants can still bring forward their concerns, but they must meet upfront requirements to do so.
Updated LTB Powers and Review Deadlines
Bill 60 also revises several Board procedures:
- The LTB can only set aside certain eviction orders in situations defined by regulation.
- The Board’s general ability to delay or refuse an eviction, even in cases where grounds exist, may be limited by future regulations.
- Requests by tenant’s for an internal LTB review must now be filed within 15 days (previously 30 days), unless an extension is granted.
- New regulation-making powers will help manage transitional issues as the legislation rolls out.
Overall goal:
To improve predictability and reduce delays at the LTB.
General Reaction So Far
The government frames Bill 60 as a way to improve efficiency at the LTB, an issue that landlords and tenants alike have found challenging over the past several years due to backlogs and delays.
However, many tenant-focused organizations have expressed concern that the new requirements and condensed timelines could make it more difficult for some renters to navigate the system, particularly in cases involving repairs, financial hardship, or complex disputes.
Landlords, meanwhile, may welcome clearer processes, more standardized forms, and shorter timelines in cases of non-payment.
As with most housing legislation, the true impact will become clearer as regulations are released and the changes are implemented.