Bill 60 Ontario: So What’s Actually Changing?

If you are a landlord or a renter in Ontario right now, there is a good chance the Landlord and Tenant Board feels less like a tribunal and more like a waiting room. Files drag, costs pile up, and people make big decisions with incomplete information because they are scared of what will happen next.

That is exactly why Bill 60 matters. The province says it is meant to reduce delays and speed up outcomes at the LTB, especially in rent arrears cases. But the details are where things get real, because several proposed and enacted changes tilt timelines, process rules, and tenant protections in ways that can change the strategy for both sides.

Below is a plain-language breakdown of what Bill 60 is trying to do, what the key changes are for LTB disputes, and what you should watch for if you are already in a case, or worried you might be soon.

What is Bill 60 in Ontario, and why does it focus on the Landlord and Tenant Board?

Bill 60 is the Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025, an omnibus bill that touches multiple areas, but the landlord-tenant changes are tied to amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and LTB processes.

Ontario’s own technical briefing materials describe the goal as reducing backlogs and making disputes move faster, including rent arrears matters, while also discouraging “bad actors” from using delay tactics.

A critical nuance is timing. Several Schedule 12 tenancy changes were framed as coming into force on a future date set by government order, so people should confirm what is in force at the moment they act, especially if they are serving notices or preparing hearings.

Bill 60 LTB rent arrears hearing rules that can change what tenants are allowed to raise

One of the most talked-about shifts is about tenants raising new issues during a rent arrears hearing.

Ontario’s briefing deck explains that, today, a tenant can raise certain issues as part of a counterclaim on the day of the hearing, even without advance notice, as long as they have a satisfactory reason. If the adjudicator cannot hear those issues, the hearing can be adjourned, which creates major delays.

Bill 60’s direction is to tighten that process so that:

• New issues would not be allowed at the hearing if prior notice was not given in line with LTB timelines, and

• In some rent arrears situations, raising new issues could be limited unless 50 percent of claimed arrears is paid.

For tenants, this can raise the stakes on preparation. Disrepair, maintenance, vital services, and similar issues may need to be raised earlier and more formally, rather than saved for the hearing date. For landlords, it could mean fewer last-minute curveballs that force adjournments, but it can also mean more separate tenant applications that run parallel to an arrears file.

“Persistent late payment” changes in Bill 60 that may redefine when eviction applications happen

The phrase “persistent late payment” has historically left room for discretion. Bill 60 introduces authority to define what counts as “persistent” in regulation, with the stated goal of improving consistency.

What matters in real life is that regulation can create clearer thresholds that make it easier to predict outcomes, but it can also create a more mechanical system where context matters less. If you are a tenant who is frequently late because of pay cycles or banking delays, or a landlord who is dealing with repeated late payments that disrupt your finances, this is one area that could directly affect the decision to file, settle, or negotiate a payment plan.

The LTB review deadline changing from 30 days to 15 days and why that matters

Another major change is the proposal to shorten the time to request an LTB review from 30 days to 15 days, with possible extensions in limited, extenuating circumstances.

This matters because a review is often where people finally seek legal help, gather documents, and try to fix serious procedural issues. A shorter window can push self-represented parties into rushed decisions, and it can reward the side that is already organized. It also means any decision or order needs to be treated like a ticking clock the moment it is issued.

If you are in an active file, a practical takeaway is simple: as soon as you receive an order, mark the deadline, download everything, and decide quickly whether you need advice.

Bill 60 rent arrears eviction notice period shortening and what it changes about timelines

Ontario’s materials also describe changes that would allow a landlord to set the termination date on an N4 seven days earlier than currently allowed for certain rent arrears situations, and to file with the LTB earlier if the tenant does not move out.

From a process standpoint, a shorter notice period can reduce the time a tenant has to catch up before a filing becomes possible. For landlords, it may reduce losses and get the file into the system earlier. For tenants, it compresses the timeline to find money, negotiate, or get help.

This is exactly where misunderstandings explode, because many tenants already move out after receiving an eviction notice without ever attending a hearing. Toronto’s analysis highlights research suggesting a large share of renters leave after receiving a notice, without going to the LTB for a hearing or decision.

If you are a tenant, remember that a notice is not the same as an eviction by the Sheriff, and you may still have options. If you are a landlord, remember that sloppy paperwork can backfire, and “faster” does not mean “forgiving.”

Bill 60 changes to landlord’s own use evictions and the one-month compensation exception

Landlord’s own use is one of the most sensitive topics in Ontario, because it sits right at the intersection of legitimate need and bad-faith abuse.

Bill 60 introduces an exception that would remove the compensation requirement in many cases where the landlord gives at least 120 days’ notice, and the termination date lines up with the end of a tenancy period or fixed term.

Ontario’s briefing explains it this way: with 120 days’ notice for a landlord’s own use eviction, the landlord would not have to provide compensation or offer another unit, while shorter notice windows would still trigger current compensation rules.

For renters, compensation often helps cover the immediate shock of moving costs in an expensive market. Toronto’s report flags the concern that reducing compensation increases housing instability and makes it harder to find a comparable home in time.

For landlords, the province’s framing is that clearer, faster rules may encourage more people to rent out units by reducing risk.

The real-world impact depends on how the LTB applies good faith tests and evidence expectations in practice, and on whether faster processes lead to more disputes, or fewer.

Government control over eviction notice content and why wording can change behaviour

Another less flashy but important change is the idea that Ontario can prescribe the contents of notices of termination, including the N4.

Ontario’s briefing deck suggests this could simplify forms and use clearer language that emphasizes rights and responsibilities, potentially reducing filings by encouraging earlier action to address arrears.

Toronto’s analysis raises a different concern: if notices are written in a way that sounds final or intimidating, more tenants may move out prematurely, even when they could have remedied the issue or raised defences at the LTB.

In other words, even if the legal test stays the same, the psychology of the paperwork can change outcomes.

Public access to LTB decisions and how it may affect tenant screening and discrimination risk

Toronto’s report also flags potential expansion of public access to LTB decisions and orders. Transparency can be good, but the concern is that if identifying information is visible or easily searchable, it may make it harder for tenants to secure housing later, especially if they have been involved in a dispute.

Landlords should be careful here, too. Screening practices still need to follow human rights rules, and overly broad “LTB blacklists” can create legal risk, reputational risk, or both.

Is Bill 60 ending fixed-term leases in Ontario?

No. There was an early idea tied to “lease agreement expiry,” which would have changed security of tenure more dramatically, but Toronto’s report notes that the government said it was no longer moving forward with that consultation as of November 1, 2025.

Ontario’s baseline rule remains that tenants generally have security of tenure and do not lose the right to remain simply because a fixed term ends, as long as they follow the lease and the RTA.

What to do now if you are in an Ontario LTB dispute or think one is coming soon

If you are already in a file, Bill 60’s direction of travel is clear: less tolerance for last-minute issues, shorter windows for procedural steps, and more pressure to be ready earlier.

A few practical moves can protect you on either side:

• Get your timeline straight. Track notice dates, due dates, hearing dates, and any review deadlines the same day you receive documents. The proposed 15-day review window is not forgiving.

• Prepare issues early. If you are a tenant with disrepair or maintenance issues, document and raise them in line with LTB rules, not on hearing day.

• Treat paperwork like evidence. Texts, emails, payment records, photos, repair requests, and written agreements matter because procedural discretion may tighten.

• Do not confuse a notice with an eviction. Many people move after receiving a notice without a hearing, even though there may be options.

The takeaway: Bill 60 changes the pace, but preparation is what protects you

Bill 60 is built around speed: speeding up arrears files, limiting last-minute issues at hearings, compressing the review timeline, and adjusting compensation rules in some landlord’s own use cases. Whether you see that as a long overdue fix or a risky squeeze depends on where you sit, but one thing is true for everyone: when timelines get tighter, mistakes get more expensive.

If Bill 60 and the current LTB climate have you thinking about a bigger move, whether that means selling a rental, buying your next home, or making a strategic change in the GTA market, The Johnson Team can help you make decisions with clarity. With a strong reputation, deep local market knowledge, and a client-first approach led by Jeff and Liz Johnson, their team guides buyers and sellers through pricing, negotiation, and every step of the process with confidence. Kindly contact The Johnson Team to get connected with an agent right away.