Collecting Rent Arrears in Ontario: Options After an LTB Order

Property Management in Ontario

An LTB order for unpaid rent gives you legal standing to collect — but enforcement is the landlord's responsibility, and there are multiple tools available.

After an LTB adjudicator issues a payment order (as opposed to an eviction order), the order states the amount the tenant owes. If the tenant doesn't pay voluntarily, the order can be enforced through Small Claims Court, the Enforcement Office, or wage garnishment.

Key Responsibilities and Best Practices

An LTB order can be filed with the Small Claims Court to obtain a Civil Court Order, which can then be enforced through wage garnishment, bank account garnishment, or seizure of assets. Filing fees apply, and this process works best when you know where the former tenant is employed or banks.

The order can also be registered on the former tenant's credit report through credit bureaus, affecting their ability to borrow, rent elsewhere, or make major purchases. While not a direct collection method, it applies pressure and creates a consequence that can motivate payment.

How D&D Property Management Helps

Collection agencies exist that specialize in residential landlord debt. They take a percentage of amounts recovered (typically 25 to 40%) but pursue collection actively through multiple channels. This is appropriate when the landlord doesn't have time to manage collection personally.

The practical reality is that many former tenants who owe rent arrears are not collectible — they have no attachable assets or income. Investing significant time and money in pursuing judgment-proof former tenants rarely produces a recovery. Focus collection efforts on cases where the tenant has identified employment or assets.