Understanding Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board in 2026

The LTB has undergone significant changes. What Ontario landlords need to know about the current state of the tribunal.

Property Management in Ontario

The Landlord and Tenant Board has been in a state of evolution since the COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented backlog that fundamentally stressed the system. Understanding the current state of the LTB — its processes, timelines, and recent changes — is essential for Ontario landlords who need to navigate it effectively.

The LTB conducts the majority of its hearings virtually, through videoconference platforms. This shift, which was emergency-driven during the pandemic, has become the permanent standard for most hearing types. Landlords must be comfortable with virtual hearing technology and understand how to present evidence effectively in this format.

Key Responsibilities and Best Practices

Current wait times for L1 applications (non-payment of rent) vary by region and fluctuate with backlog. While significantly improved from pandemic highs, wait times in busy jurisdictions like Toronto can still be 2–4 months from application filing to hearing date. This timeline makes early action on rent arrears even more critical — every month of delay compounds the financial impact.

The LTB's online filing portal allows landlords to file applications electronically, track application status, and receive notifications digitally. This is a significant operational improvement over the previous paper-based process and allows faster filing and more accessible status monitoring.

How D&D Property Management Helps

Uncontested hearing blocks — scheduled sessions where multiple uncontested matters are heard in sequence — have helped address backlog for straightforward cases. Contested matters, particularly eviction applications where the tenant has significant arguments, are scheduled for longer individual hearings that may be months out.

D&D Property Management navigates the current LTB environment for clients who need it. Our experience with virtual hearings, evidence preparation, and LTB processes gives clients the best possible representation when formal proceedings are necessary.

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.