You opened the envelope. Now breathe.

In 30 seconds, here's what's true

• A notice is not an eviction. Your landlord cannot make you leave. Only the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) can order an eviction, after a hearing.
• Your landlord cannot change the locks, remove your things, or shut off your heat. Only the Sheriff can enforce an eviction — never the landlord, and never the police.
• If your notice is an N4 (for unpaid rent), you currently have 14 days to pay what you owe. Paying before your landlord files with the LTB cancels the notice completely.
• Even in the worst case, eviction in Ontario usually takes several months — often 5 to 8 — from the day you got the notice. You have time. You are not being thrown out tomorrow.
• You have the right to a hearing, the right to explain your side, and the right to ask the Board not to evict you. Behind on rent does not mean you have no rights.

The steps your landlord must follow

1. 1

   You get a notice (an "N" form)

   The form tells you why and gives a date. It is not an eviction order — it is the first step. You do not have to move out, and you should not move out just because you got it. Look at the top-right corner for the form number (N4 means unpaid rent).

2. 2

   You have time to respond — or to fix it

   For unpaid rent, paying the full amount on the N4 before your landlord files an application cancels the notice and you stay. The current window is 14 days for monthly or yearly tenancies. (Ontario's Bill 60 will shorten this to 7 days once it takes effect — it has not yet, as of June 2026. We update this page the moment it changes.)

3. 3

   Your landlord applies to the LTB

   If you don't pay or move, the landlord files an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board and asks for a hearing. This is not automatic and it is not fast — there is a long waiting list for hearings.

4. 4

   You get a hearing

   You will be given a date, usually months away, and the hearing is often by video. You can attend, explain your situation, raise problems with the unit, and ask the Board for more time or to not evict you. Missing the hearing is the most common way people lose — so put the date everywhere.

5. 5

   Only then — and only the Sheriff

   If the Board orders an eviction and you still haven't moved, only the Sheriff (the Court Enforcement Office) can carry it out. Your landlord can never do it themselves. For unpaid rent, you can still stop the eviction by paying everything owed before the Sheriff arrives.

What to do next

• Find the form number (top-right corner). N4 = unpaid rent. The number tells you which rules apply.
• Write down every date: the deadline on the notice, and your hearing date if you have one. Put them in your phone.
• Do not move out, and do not sign anything your landlord hands you — especially a form agreeing to leave.
• Gather your proof now: your lease, every rent payment, and any texts, emails, or photos about the unit.
• If you can pay the rent you owe, pay it — before your landlord files with the LTB, it cancels the notice.
• Get free help fast: Steps to Justice (stepstojustice.ca), a community legal clinic through Legal Aid Ontario (1-800-668-8258), or Tenant Duty Counsel at your hearing.
• Go to your hearing. Even if things look bad, showing up and explaining your side is the single most important thing you can do.

Common myths