Ontario's Rental Rules Just Changed: What Landlords, Tenants, and Buyers Need to Know

Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) has been amended, with the new rules officially taking effect on September 21, 2026. Whether you're a landlord, a tenant, or someone looking to purchase a rental property, these changes are worth understanding, they affect notice periods, compensation requirements, and how disputes get resolved at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).

Here's a plain-language breakdown of what's new.

1. Longer Notice for "Personal Use" Evictions Now Skips Compensation

Previously, landlords ending a tenancy so they (or a family member) could move into the unit had to give at least 60 days' notice, and in many cases, compensate the tenant or offer a comparable unit.

Under the amended Section 48.1, landlords who instead give at least 120 days' notice are no longer required to provide that compensation or alternative housing.

Why it matters: This creates a trade-off for landlords, give more notice, save on compensation costs. Tenants should be aware that a longer notice period doesn't come with the same financial cushion a 60-day notice would.

2. Renovation Evictions Come With Stronger Tenant Protections

If a landlord is ending a tenancy to do repairs or renovations, the rules around keeping tenants informed, and giving them a real shot at moving back in — have tightened significantly. Under the amended Sections 53(2.1)–(2.2) and 57.1(1.1)–(4):

• Landlords must give tenants written notice of the estimated completion date for renovations.
• Any changes to that timeline must also be communicated in writing.
• Landlords must notify tenants of the final date the unit is ready for re-occupancy.
• Once renovations are done, tenants must be given at least 60 days to move back in.
• If a landlord skips these steps, tenants can apply to the LTB for a remedy for "failure to afford a right of first refusal."
• Tenants also get more time to file that claim: they now have until the later of two years after vacating, or six months after renovations are completed.

Why it matters: This closes a gap that made it easy for "renoviction" claims to go unchallenged simply because tenants ran out of time to act, or weren't kept in the loop. Landlords planning renovation-based evictions will need tighter documentation and communication practices going forward.

3. Faster Eviction Timeline for Unpaid Rent

Under the amended Section 59(1), the notice period for eviction due to unpaid rent has been shortened from 14 days to 7 days for both fixed-term and month-to-month tenancies.

Why it matters: This significantly speeds up the process for landlords dealing with non-payment, while giving tenants a much narrower window to catch up or respond before formal eviction proceedings can begin.

What Should You Do Next?

• Landlords: Review your notice templates and renovation/eviction procedures to make sure they reflect the new requirements — especially the written notification obligations for renovictions.
• Tenants: Know your rights around the right-of-first-refusal remedy, and keep records of any renovation-related notices (or lack thereof) from your landlord.
• Buyers of rental properties: Factor these changes into your due diligence, since they affect how quickly (and cheaply) a unit can be vacated for personal use or renovation.
• Generally: Check the Landlord and Tenant Board website for updated forms, which took effect alongside these changes on September 21st.