What Happens at a Landlord and Tenant Board Hearing in Ontario

Sara Santos-Vigneault
Jan 26
4 min read

Written by: Sara Santos-Vigneault

Date: January 26, 2026

The Role of the Landlord and Tenant Board

The Landlord and Tenant Board is an administrative tribunal that resolves disputes between landlords and tenants under Ontario’s residential tenancy system. Its authority is established by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants and grants the Board its adjudicative powers [1].

LTB proceedings are not criminal or civil court trials. Hearings are conducted by an appointed LTB Member, who manages the proceeding, receives evidence, and applies the Act to the facts presented by the parties [2].

The Board does not investigate disputes independently and does not act on behalf of either party. Decisions are based solely on the evidence and submissions provided during the hearing process [3].

Types of Landlord and Tenant Board Hearings

The Landlord and Tenant Board hears a range of applications authorized under the Residential Tenancies Act, including eviction applications, tenant rights applications, and other statutory matters. A summary of application types and filing processes is published by Tribunals Ontario [4].

Hearings may be conducted in person, by videoconference, by telephone, or as written hearings. The LTB has discretion to determine the hearing format and may change the format where appropriate to ensure fairness and accessibility [5]. Information about hearing formats and scheduling is publicly available on the LTB’s hearings page [6].

The Notice of Hearing

When an application is accepted for processing, the LTB issues a Notice of Hearing. The Notice identifies the LTB file number, the parties, the type of application, and the date, time, and format of the hearing. It also sets out procedural information relevant to the proceeding [7].

Notices of Hearing are issued in accordance with the LTB’s Rules of Procedure and form part of the Board’s formal adjudicative process. Guidance on how hearings are scheduled and how Notices are delivered is published by Tribunals Ontario as part of its application and hearing process materials [8].

Evidence at the Landlord and Tenant Board

LTB hearings are evidence-based proceedings. The Board considers evidence presented by the parties in accordance with its Rules of Procedure, which address the admissibility and treatment of documentary and testimonial evidence [9].

Evidence may include documents, photographs, audio or video recordings, and oral testimony. The LTB Member determines the relevance, reliability, and weight of the evidence presented. The Board does not gather evidence independently or supplement the record on behalf of the parties [10].

Procedural guidance on evidence, disclosure expectations, and hearing preparation is published by Tribunals Ontario in its hearing information materials [11].

Hands at a podium with papers in a courtroom, man wearing a navy suit. Two microphones are visible, suggesting a speech or presentation setting. — Speech Stock photos by Vecteezy</a>

How a Hearing Typically Proceeds

An LTB hearing follows a structured process managed by the assigned Member. Hearings generally begin with introductions and identification of the application before the Board. Preliminary procedural issues may be addressed before evidence is received.

Each party is given an opportunity to present evidence and respond to the other party’s materials. The LTB Member may ask questions to clarify evidence or issues relevant to the application. Once evidence is complete, parties may be invited to make submissions addressing the application of the law to the facts presented [12].

The hearing concludes when the Member determines that sufficient information has been received to decide the matter.

Conduct and Expectations During a Hearing

LTB hearings are governed by procedural rules intended to ensure fairness and orderly proceedings. Parties are expected to follow the direction of the LTB Member and comply with the Board’s Rules of Procedure [13].

Recording hearings without authorization is restricted. Tribunals Ontario also publishes information regarding accessibility accommodations and procedural fairness across tribunal proceedings [14].

Common Misunderstandings About LTB Hearings

An LTB hearing is not mediation unless specifically designated as such. The LTB Member does not act as an advocate and does not resolve disputes based on personal assessments of fairness alone. Decisions must be grounded in the Residential Tenancies Act and the evidence properly before the Board [15].

The scheduling of a hearing does not predetermine the outcome of an application. The Board’s role is to assess evidence and apply the law as written.

Landlord and Tenant Board hearings function within a statutory and procedural framework established by the Residential Tenancies Act and administered through Tribunal rules. These proceedings are intended to resolve residential tenancy disputes by assessing evidence presented by the parties and applying the Act as written.

Understanding how hearings are structured, how evidence is considered, and how procedural documents such as Notices of Hearing operate provides context for the Board’s adjudicative role within Ontario’s residential tenancy system. The LTB’s authority is limited to what is granted by statute, and its decisions are grounded in the record before it.