In 2024, the Ontario government introduced Bill 60: the Protecting Renters and Strengthening Community Housing Act. This legislation amends the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) and the Housing Services Act with the goal of strengthening tenant protections, cracking down on bad-faith evictions, and improving the efficiency of the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Here's what landlords and tenants need to know about Bill 60 as of 2026.
Overview: What Does Bill 60 Do?
Bill 60 is a broad piece of legislation that touches several areas of Ontario tenant law. The key themes are:
- Stronger penalties for illegal evictions and bad-faith notices
- Enhanced tenant protections for personal-use (N12) and renovation (N13) evictions
- LTB process reforms aimed at reducing wait times and improving hearings
- Community housing changes including modernized rules for social housing
Not all provisions of Bill 60 have been proclaimed into force at the same time. Some took effect immediately upon Royal Assent, while others are being phased in. As of early 2026, several key provisions are in effect.
Enhanced Penalties for Bad-Faith Evictions
This is the headline change. Before Bill 60, the maximum fines for illegal evictions were relatively low — $50,000 for individuals and $250,000 for corporations. Many landlords treated these as a cost of doing business.
Under Bill 60:
- Individual landlords now face fines of up to $100,000
- Corporations face fines of up to $500,000
- Enhanced compensation for tenants who are evicted in bad faith, including the right to return to the unit if it becomes available
The most common scenario this targets: a landlord serves an N12 notice claiming they or a family member needs the unit for personal use, the tenant moves out, and the landlord promptly re-rents the unit at a higher price. Under Bill 60, this carries severe financial consequences.
Stronger Protections for N12 (Personal Use) Evictions
The N12 notice — used when a landlord claims to need the unit for personal use by themselves, a family member, or a purchaser — has been a source of abuse. Bill 60 introduces several reforms:
- One month's rent compensation must be paid to the tenant before the termination date (this was already required but is now more strictly enforced)
- The landlord or purchaser must occupy the unit for at least 12 months. If the unit is re-listed for rent within 12 months of the tenant vacating, the landlord is presumed to have acted in bad faith.
- Increased scrutiny at hearings. Adjudicators are directed to more closely examine whether the landlord genuinely intends to use the unit.
For landlords, this means you should only use an N12 notice when you genuinely intend to occupy the unit. Bad-faith use carries real risk.
N13 (Demolition/Renovation) Changes
Bill 60 also strengthens protections around N13 notices — used for demolition, conversion to non-residential use, or major repairs requiring vacant possession. Key changes:
- Right of first refusal: Tenants displaced by renovations have a right to return to the unit at the same rent once work is complete
- Renovation eviction restrictions: Landlords must demonstrate that the work genuinely requires vacant possession — minor cosmetic upgrades don't qualify
- Documentation requirements: Landlords must provide permits and contractor estimates to support N13 applications
N4 Notice Period: Still 14 Days
One widely discussed provision of Bill 60 proposed reducing the N4 non-payment notice period from 14 days to 7 days. However, as of early 2026, this provision has not been proclaimed into force. The notice period for the N4 remains 14 days.
Landlords should continue using 14 days when serving an N4 notice. If the 7-day provision is ever proclaimed, LTB Ready forms will be updated automatically.
LTB Process Reforms
Bill 60 includes provisions aimed at improving how the LTB operates:
- Faster scheduling goals: The government has set targets to reduce the current hearing wait times (which can exceed 6 months for some applications)
- More adjudicators: Funding for additional adjudicators to handle the backlog
- Improved virtual hearing access: Better technology and procedures for remote hearings
- Clearer decision timelines: Goals for adjudicators to issue decisions within set timeframes after hearings
Whether these reforms achieve meaningful improvement remains to be seen. As of early 2026, wait times have improved somewhat but still remain lengthy for many application types.
Anti-Harassment Provisions
Bill 60 strengthens protections against landlord harassment:
- Expanded definition of harassment includes repeated attempts to pressure a tenant to vacate without a valid notice
- Higher compensation awards for tenants who prove harassment at a T2 hearing
- Prohibition on lock changes: Confirmed and strengthened — landlords cannot change locks to force a tenant out under any circumstances
Self-Help Evictions: Still Illegal, Now More Costly
Self-help evictions — where a landlord changes the locks, removes belongings, shuts off utilities, or otherwise forces a tenant out without an LTB order — were already illegal under the RTA. Bill 60 makes them more expensive:
- Increased fines for self-help evictions
- Tenants can seek compensation through the LTB or Small Claims Court
- Municipal bylaw enforcement officers may also be empowered to issue fines in some jurisdictions
Community Housing Modernization
The second half of Bill 60 addresses the Housing Services Act and community housing:
- Modernized rules for social housing corporations
- New provisions for housing affordability programs
- Updated governance requirements for community housing providers
These changes primarily affect social housing providers and municipalities rather than private landlords and tenants.
What It Means for Landlords
- Follow the rules. The cost of cutting corners has increased dramatically.
- Only serve an N12 if you genuinely need the unit. Bad-faith evictions now carry up to $100,000 in fines.
- Document everything. Keep records of why you need the unit, when compensation was paid, and proof of occupancy after the tenant vacates.
- Use the correct forms. LTB Ready generates Bill 60-compliant forms with the correct notice periods and compensation requirements.
What It Means for Tenants
- Know your rights. You have stronger protections than ever against bad-faith evictions and harassment.
- Challenge suspicious N12s. If you suspect your landlord doesn't actually intend to occupy your unit, raise this at the hearing.
- File a T2 if you're being harassed. The penalties your landlord faces have increased, which makes the LTB a more effective remedy.
- Keep records of everything. Texts, emails, photos, and dates. Documentation wins hearings.
LTB Ready Is Bill 60 Compliant
All LTB Ready forms are updated to reflect Bill 60 provisions that are currently in force. Our N4 notices use the correct 14-day notice period. Our N12 notices include the required compensation provisions. And our T2 applications reference the enhanced penalty framework.