Ontario's New Rental Rules Took Effect September 21: What Eastern Ontario Landlords and Tenants Need to Know

Ontario's rental rules changed on September 21, and some of the changes are big. If you own a rental in Kemptville or Brockville, or you rent a house in Winchester or Cornwall, this affects you. I have read through what the Landlord and Tenant Board published and I want to put it in plain language, fair to both sides, because the rules only work when everyone knows them.

These changes come from Bill 60, the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act. It passed in 2025, and parts of it came into force in stages. This latest stage is the one most people will feel.

Late rent: the N4 is now 7 days, not 14

The N4 is the notice a landlord gives when rent has not been paid. For any N4 served on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date on the notice can be as little as 7 days away, down from 14. Paying the full amount owed before that date still voids the notice.

For landlords, that means a faster start when rent goes unpaid. For tenants, it means less breathing room, so if you know you will be short, talk to your landlord early. In my experience a conversation before the first of the month solves far more than a notice after it.

"Persistent late payment" now has a definition

This one used to be a grey area. Now it is spelled out. Rent counts as persistently late when it arrives more than seven days after the due date at least three times within a six-month period. A landlord can use that pattern as grounds for an N8 notice.

To be fair, this is not about the odd slip. One late payment, or rent that comes in two days late, does not meet the test. It is about a clear pattern, and it is worth tenants knowing exactly where the line is.

Raising other issues at an arrears hearing

At a non-payment hearing, tenants sometimes want to raise other issues, such as repairs that were never done. Now, to raise those issues, the tenant has to pay the landlord half of the rent arrears claimed in the application at least seven days before the hearing. That payment goes directly to the landlord, not to the Board.

I know this will feel hard for some tenants. The point is simple. If there are repair problems, put them in writing to your landlord as they happen, and keep copies. A paper trail helps you far more than waiting to bring everything up at a hearing.

Landlord's own use (N12): new trade-off

When a landlord ends a tenancy because they or a family member will move in, they have had to pay the tenant one month's rent in compensation, or offer another acceptable unit. Now, if the landlord gives at least 120 days' notice with a termination date at the end of a rental period, that compensation is no longer required.

There is a new safeguard for tenants too. The landlord, or the person named on the notice, has to move in within 60 days of the termination date. If they don't, the Board will presume the notice was given in bad faith when a tenant files a T5 application. That 60-day rule does not apply to a purchaser's own use notice.

My advice to owners is plain. Only use an N12 when the move-in is real and planned, and keep records that show it.

Renovation notices (N13): more information for tenants

If a landlord ends a tenancy to do major repairs or renovations, they now have to give the tenant a written estimated completion date without delay, and tell the tenant when the work is finished. Tenants also have more time to file a T5 if they believe the notice was not in good faith: two years after moving out, or six months after the renovations are finished, whichever is later.

That is a fair balance. Owners who are doing real work have nothing to worry about, and tenants who want to move back in get clear information.

Old forms stop working November 30

The Board updated nine forms. The older versions will not be accepted after November 30, 2026. If you keep blank forms saved on your computer, delete them and download fresh copies from the Tribunals Ontario website each time. It is a small thing, but a notice on the wrong form can set a landlord back weeks.

Where to get help locally

Tenants who need free advice have good options in our area. The Roy McMurtry Legal Clinic in Cornwall serves low-income residents across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, which includes Winchester, Chesterville, Morrisburg, Long Sault and Ingleside, and housing law is one of its core services. Further west, The Legal Clinic serves Lanark, Leeds and Grenville from offices in Perth and Brockville, which covers Kemptville, Smiths Falls, Merrickville, Prescott and Spencerville.

Landlords should talk to a licensed paralegal or lawyer before filing anything they are unsure about. The rules are clearer now, but they are also stricter about timing and paperwork.

What I take from all of this

Most of these changes reward the same habits: pay on time or speak up early, put repair requests in writing, keep good records, and only give notices you can stand behind. Good tenancies along this corridor have always run that way, and the new rules just make it official.

If you'd rather have someone handle notices, records and the day-to-day for you, get in touch. I am happy to talk it through.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice — for your specific situation, talk to a paralegal, lawyer or accountant.