Cancelling an LTB Hearing in Ontario: Withdraw, Settle or Reschedule

You can cancel an LTB hearing by withdrawing your application, by settling in a way that resolves it, or by getting it rescheduled. The applicant can withdraw before the hearing begins. Rescheduling needs every party's consent and must reach the LTB at least five business days ahead. Do not assume any request will be granted, because a missed hearing can end your application.

How to cancel an LTB hearing: your options

"Cancel" can mean different things at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). This table shows the options and what each one involves.

How to withdraw an LTB application

Under Rule 17 of the LTB's Rules of Procedure, an applicant may withdraw an application without consent at any time before the oral or electronic hearing begins. The applicant must notify the LTB and the other parties as soon as possible. If the application is being heard in writing, the cut-off is the day before the applicant's written submissions are due.

A hearing begins when the parties first come before the adjudicator or Dispute Resolution Officer, and that includes an appearance on a preliminary matter. After that point, you can only withdraw with their consent.

To file, use the Request to Withdraw an Application form on the Tribunals Ontario Portal. The LTB says that if you cannot use the portal, you can email the form to LTB@ontario.ca with your file number and the title of your request in the subject line.

For the full process, see our guide to the LTB hearing. Before you withdraw, ask a lawyer, a licensed paralegal or the LTB what withdrawing means for the notice you served and your timelines. The LTB says its fees are non-refundable. If you refile later, use the current form. The LTB replaced L1, L2, L9, L10 and several notice forms on September 21, 2026, and says previous versions will not be accepted after November 30, 2026.

When a tenant payment or settlement makes cancelling sensible

A hearing does not disappear because the tenant paid you. The LTB needs to be told what changed. These are the usual routes for a rent arrears application:

• Payment agreement. If you and the tenant agree a payment plan, a copy of the written Payment Agreement is filed with the LTB before the hearing. The LTB can then issue a consent order, and the hearing may be cancelled.
• Paid in full. The Request for a Discontinuance Order Without a Hearing form is for an application where the tenant has paid all arrears and the application fee.
• Payment through the LTB. Rule 20.1 says that if a tenant pays the LTB at least the amount needed to discontinue the application before an order is issued, the LTB pays that amount to the landlord and discontinues the application without a hearing.
• Payment to you, nothing filed. If the numbers changed and you still go ahead, a landlord with an L1 or L9 application must complete the L1/L9 Application Information Update and file it five business days before the hearing.

Mediation is another way to settle before the hearing. For the wider steps, see our guide to the rent arrears process at the LTB. If your records are in order, all of these choices are easier. Our rent collection administration keeps ledgers, receipts and late-payment tracking for that reason. Deciding to go to the LTB is a separate decision.

Can you reschedule an LTB hearing?

Yes, but the LTB sets conditions. Under Rule 21:

1. The request must be made with the consent of all parties.
2. The LTB must receive it as soon as reasonably possible and at least five business days before the hearing date.
3. The party asking must file a list of dates when each party and any representative is unavailable in the three months after the hearing date.

Consent is needed even if the notice of hearing and application have not yet reached the other side. Use the Request to Reschedule a Hearing form on the Tribunals Ontario Portal.

A request that is late or has no consent can still be granted if an adjudicator or hearing officer is satisfied it was not reasonably possible to follow the rule. Plan on the opposite. If the request is denied, or has not been considered by the hearing date, the hearing goes ahead as scheduled.

The practical lesson is to ask the other party early, get consent in writing and keep preparing until you receive a new notice of hearing.

Asking for an adjournment on the day

A party may ask for an adjournment at the beginning of a hearing. The decision is discretionary. The LTB may adjourn if it is satisfied that an adjournment is required to permit an adequate hearing. The factors listed in Rule 21.8 include:

• the reason for the request and each party's position
• the issues in the application
• any prejudice from granting or refusing it
• the history of the proceeding, including earlier adjournments and rescheduling
• the LTB's duty to use the most expeditious method that still gives everyone an adequate opportunity to be heard

In plain terms, "I am not ready" is a weak reason, especially if you had notice. A reason tied to fairness, such as evidence the other side only just produced, fits the listed factors better. The LTB also publishes an interpretation guideline on adjourning and rescheduling that you can read before you ask.

What happens if you miss the hearing, and how to join one

If you are the applicant and the hearing proceeds without you, the application may be dismissed. If you are the respondent, the LTB may proceed in your absence. The LTB says that if you do not go and no one attends in your place, the adjudicator can dismiss the application or decide it without you.

If an order is made and you could not take part, you can ask the LTB to review it within 30 days. The listed grounds include not receiving the notice of hearing and not being reasonably able to participate.

How to join an LTB hearing:

• Most hearings are virtual. The notice of hearing includes a Zoom link and a telephone number.
• Log on or call at least 15 minutes before the start time.
• Stay in the virtual room until the adjudicator says you may leave. Hearings are scheduled in blocks, so you may wait.
• If you cannot join because of a technical problem, use the LTB's hearing support contact details on its website.

Questions about cancelling an LTB hearing

Can you reschedule an LTB hearing?

Yes, if every party consents and the LTB receives the request at least five business days before the hearing. You must also list the dates each party is unavailable for the next three months. Late or non-consent requests can be granted only if compliance was not reasonably possible. If it is denied, the hearing proceeds.

How do I withdraw an LTB application?

File the Request to Withdraw an Application form on the Tribunals Ontario Portal, and notify the other parties as soon as possible. An applicant may withdraw without consent before the hearing begins. After it begins, the adjudicator's consent is needed. LTB fees are non-refundable, so a withdrawal does not return your application fee.

What happens if I miss my LTB hearing?

If you are the applicant, the application may be dismissed. If you are the respondent, the hearing can go ahead without you and the LTB may decide on the evidence it has. If an order is made, you can ask for a review within 30 days if you were not reasonably able to take part.

Can a tenant payment cancel the hearing?

Not automatically. If you and the tenant agree a payment plan, file the written Payment Agreement before the hearing and the LTB can issue a consent order. If the tenant has paid everything owed, you can file the Request for a Discontinuance Order Without a Hearing. Otherwise the hearing remains on the schedule.

Devon Moore, Operations Lead Co-Founder & Operations Lead — D&D Property Management

Devon Moore is the co-founder and Operations Lead at D&D Property Management, managing rental properties across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and Waterloo Region.