Tenants who don’t pay rent pose significant challenges for landlords across Canada, especially when eviction is the only solution. But the problem is especially dire in Ontario, where evicting a tenant is a drawn-out, convoluted process with a hefty price tag. Some landlords are so frustrated that they’re calling for automatic evictions for tenants who don’t pay rent.

This sentiment is understandable in a province that has long faced criticism for its handling of landlord-tenant disputes. However, positive changes are on the horizon with the arrival of Ontario’s Bill 60. This legislation contains a slew of initiatives designed to make it easier for landlords to resolve disputes with non-paying tenants. Let’s explore what it has to offer.

What is Bill 60 in Ontario?

Bill 60 in Ontario is a piece of legislation that seeks to make significant changes to provincial laws across several key areas, including infrastructure, housing development, commercial licensing, and landlord-tenant relations. The proposed legislation, titled the “Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025,” was introduced on October 23, 2025, by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH).

In a press release, the MMAH stated that the main goals of this legislation are to protect and bolster Ontario’s economy by eliminating costly regulations and improving efficiencies in various industries. According to the MMAH, sweeping changes are necessary to counter the “tariffs and economic uncertainty taking aim at our economy.”

Why is Bill 60 significant to rental property owners in Ontario?

If passed, the legislation could have a positive impact on Ontario’s residential rental industry. Bill 60 contains provisions to address and reduce the backlog of cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The goal is to help landlords and tenants resolve disputes faster.

Why is reducing delays at the LTB so critical? The reason is that it can take landlords months to schedule a hearing and obtain a ruling, especially in cases involving evictions. And these delays result in significant financial losses. The cost of evicting a tenant is higher in Ontario than in any other province or territory.

Recently, the LTB has made progress in resolving cases, thanks to additional provincial funding. The Ontario government notes in a technical briefing that the LTB settled 106,000 cases in 2024—a yearly record for the organization. Cases are now being heard within 8-9 weeks compared to 34-43 weeks in early 2023. You can learn more about the LTB’s current case-handling timeline here. 

However, despite the improvements, delays and red tape persist at the LTB, negatively impacting landlords. Bill 60 aims to make further progress in these areas, while ensuring fairness for both rental property owners and tenants. This is promising news for Ontario landlords and tenants alike, as SingleKey’s CEO Viler Lika notes:

“What they’re trying to do is reduce ways that renters game the LTB and delay evictions. Closing loopholes for high-risk tenants who get free rent by delaying proceedings. Streamlining hearings and judgements helps both landlords and tenants overall — most cases involve landlords moving in or non-payment (N4). These updates should help clear the backlog.”

A secondary goal of Bill 60 is to encourage more landlords to put their properties back on the market, thereby boosting the housing supply. Right now, many of them are opting to leave their units empty rather than face the possibility of a prolonged and costly eviction.

But that may change if Bill 60 becomes law. Openroom CEO and co-founder, Weiting Bollu, is optimistic about how the pending legislation will strengthen the rental industry:

“My immigrant dad has rented out basement units at affordable prices. In recent years, he’s kept them off the market because Ontario’s tenancy laws didn’t protect him if someone didn’t pay rent. He’s one of thousands the Ford Government says have withdrawn affordable units. I believe it — I see the empty unit.

I support Bill 60 and believe it will create a fairer, more transparent rental ecosystem for both tenants and housing providers.”

How does Bill 60 help rental property owners and landlords?

Bill 60 contains many initiatives that can benefit landlords and property managers, as outlined in this technical briefing. Below are some key highlights from the proposed legislation.

Standardization of the N4 notice

The N4 form is a document that Ontario landlords must serve to tenants informing them of the end of a tenancy due to non-payment of rent. Stakeholders have expressed that it’s filled with murky language and is tough to interpret. These flaws can lead to misunderstandings and technical errors, resulting in the LTB dismissing completed forms and hampering landlords’ ability to schedule a hearing.

The proposed changes allow Ontario (rather than the LTB) to simplify the form, making it easier to understand for both landlords and tenants. In particular, tenants will better understand the seriousness of the notice and the consequences of noncompliance. The hope is that more of them will catch up on their past-due rent, thereby reducing the number of eviction applications filed with the LTB.

Shortened rental arrears eviction period

Before starting the eviction process for unpaid rent, landlords in Ontario must give their tenants 14 days to pay the past-due amount. Under the new rules, this time period shrinks to 7 days. While a minor change, it allows landlords to initiate an eviction sooner, saving time and money.

Limits on the postponement of eviction orders

Currently, an LTB adjudicator has the authority to postpone the enforcement of an eviction order, which may occur upon request from the tenant. Unfortunately, this sometimes results in long wait times for landlords to remove a delinquent tenant from their property, sometimes weeks or months. 

The regulations in Bill 60 would place restrictions on LTB adjudicators’ ability to postpone evictions, clarifying when and how these delays may be applied. The LTB would have to consult with the government, which will review the case and may deny the postponement. 

Removal of tenants’ ability to raise new issues on the hearing date

Under Ontario’s current tenancy laws, a tenant served with an eviction notice for unpaid rent can introduce certain issues at the hearing date as a counterclaim, even without prior notice. Unfortunately, this often leads to significant delays, as a new hearing may need to be scheduled, which can take 6 weeks to 12 months, depending on the objections raised by the tenant.

Under the proposed changes, tenants will not be able to raise new issues at the rental arrears hearing date unless they’ve given prior notice to the LTB. For landlords, that means faster resolution of eviction cases—and a lower hit to their bottom line.

Elimination of the landlord move-in rule (under certain circumstances)

Currently, landlords in Ontario must compensate a tenant if they or a family member wishes to move into the rental unit for at least one year. This compensation is equal to one month’s rent, unless the landlord can provide the tenant with alternative accommodation.

Bill 60 would remove the financial compensation requirement, provided the landlord gives the tenant at least 120 days’ notice of the LOU (Landlord’s Own Use) eviction. This amendment would save the landlord one month of rent in situations where they plan to move into their rental.

Our final thoughts

While the LTB has made progress in reducing its backlog of eviction cases, further improvements are still necessary. If Bill 60 is enacted into law, it could go a long way toward addressing many of the issues plaguing the province’s residential tenancy tribunal. 

Shortening eviction periods, clarifying vague rules, limiting the postponement of eviction orders, restricting a tenant’s ability to drag out hearings, and other changes in Bill 60 are encouraging news for Ontario landlords. Fairer hearings and faster evictions will reduce the expenses and other risks that come with renting out a property. 

While Bill 60 could make life easier for landlords dealing with non-paying tenants, proper tenant screening remains the first line of defence against this risk. Learn how SingleKey’s comprehensive Tenant Report gives you everything you need to vet renters with confidence.