Bill 60 Ontario Explained: What Landlords and Tenants Need to Know in 2026

Ontario’s rental landscape shifted significantly in November 2025 with the passage of Bill 60, formally known as the Protecting Ontario by Reducing Regulatory Costs Act, 2025. The legislation introduced a series of meaningful amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act that will affect how landlords and tenants in Ontario interact, how eviction proceedings are initiated and resolved, and what rights and obligations each party holds going forward.

Whether you are a landlord managing one rental unit or an entire portfolio of investment properties, or a tenant trying to understand how these changes may affect your security of tenure, it is essential to know what Bill 60 does, and what it will mean for you in practical terms.

Important note: While Bill 60 has received Royal Assent and is now law, not all of its provisions have come into force. The specific amendments affecting residential tenancies are subject to proclamation, meaning they will take effect on a date to be determined by the Ontario government. We are monitoring this closely and will update this post as soon as proclamation dates are confirmed. In the meantime, this post explains what the changes will look like when they do take effect, so that landlords and tenants are fully prepared.

This post breaks down the key changes clearly and explains what action, if any, you should be taking right now.

Bill 60 was introduced and passed by the Ontario government in November 2025 as part of a broader legislative agenda aimed at reducing regulatory burden and streamlining administrative processes across multiple sectors. Within the residential tenancy framework, the bill’s amendments are among the most consequential changes to Ontario rental law in recent years, even if their full effect has not yet been felt.

The changes will affect the timelines for eviction proceedings, the automatic renewal rules for fixed-term leases, landlord compensation obligations under certain notice types, and the window available to parties for appealing Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) decisions. Taken together, they represent a meaningful shift in the balance of the landlord-tenant relationship, and both sides of that relationship need to understand what is coming.

Perhaps the most immediately impactful change under Bill 60 concerns the timeline for eviction proceedings related to non-payment of rent.

Previously, when a landlord served a tenant with an N4 Notice (The official notice used to inform a tenant that rent is overdue and to demand payment) the tenant had 14 days to pay the outstanding amount before the landlord could apply to the LTB for an eviction order.

Under Bill 60, that window will be cut in half. Once the relevant provisions come into force, landlords will be able to apply to the LTB for eviction within 7 days of serving the N4 Notice if the outstanding rent has not been paid.

What this means for landlords: The new timeline will allow you to initiate the formal eviction process significantly faster than before. This is particularly valuable for landlords dealing with tenants in chronic arrears, as it reduces the period during which rent continues to go unpaid while awaiting LTB proceedings. However, it also means you will need to be organized and ready to act. If you intend to apply to the LTB after the 7-day period, ensure your documentation is complete and accurate before filing.

What this means for tenants: Once this change takes effect, if you receive an N4 Notice you will have a shorter window to respond. Paying the full amount of rent owing within 7 days of receiving the notice will void the notice and prevent your landlord from filing for eviction on the basis of that specific non-payment. If you are unable to pay and are facing an LTB application, contact a licensed paralegal immediately – acting quickly gives you the most options.

Under the current rules, when a fixed-term lease (typically a one-year agreement) reaches its end date and neither the landlord nor the tenant takes formal steps to end the tenancy, the lease automatically converts to a month-to-month tenancy on the same terms. This has been a longstanding default under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Bill 60 will change that. Once in force, fixed-term leases in Ontario will no longer automatically convert to month-to-month tenancies upon expiry. Instead, landlords will have the opportunity to negotiate the terms of the next lease period when a fixed-term agreement comes to an end.

What this means for landlords: This change will give you considerably more flexibility at the end of a fixed-term lease. You will be able to negotiate updated terms (including, within the limits set by Ontario’s rent increase guideline, rent adjustments) rather than being locked into a continuation of the previous agreement on existing terms.

What this means for tenants: This change will introduce a degree of uncertainty that does not currently exist at the end of a fixed-term lease. Where you may previously have assumed your tenancy would simply continue month-to-month, you will need to be attentive to what happens as your lease approaches its end date and be prepared to negotiate or respond to new proposed terms. Understanding your rights in this situation (including protections that will still exist under the Residential Tenancies Act) is important. If you are unsure of your position, seek legal advice before your lease expires.

An N12 Notice is the form a landlord uses to end a tenancy when the landlord, a family member, or a purchaser of the property requires the unit for personal use.

Under the current rules, landlords issuing an N12 Notice are required to provide the tenant with compensation equal to one month’s rent as a condition of the notice being valid.

Bill 60 will remove that compensation requirement. Once in force, landlords issuing an N12 Notice will no longer be required to provide one month’s rent compensation to the tenant. However, the legislation maintains the requirement that landlords provide the tenant with a minimum of 120 days’ notice before the termination date.

What this means for landlords: The removal of the compensation requirement will reduce the financial cost of recovering your unit for personal use. However, the 120-day notice requirement will remain firmly in place, and the notice must still be issued in good faith. Issuing an N12 in bad faith (for example, to circumvent other eviction rules) carries serious legal consequences, including potential fines.

What this means for tenants: Once this change takes effect, you will no longer be entitled to one month’s compensation upon receiving an N12, though your right to 120 days’ notice will remain protected. You will also retain the right to dispute an N12 Notice before the LTB if you have reason to believe it is not being issued in good faith. The appeal period under the new rules will be only 15 days, so if you intend to challenge an N12, acting promptly will be critical.

Under the current rules, parties to an LTB decision have 30 days to file an appeal or request a review of that decision. Bill 60 will reduce that window to 15 days.

This change will apply to both landlords and tenants. If you receive an LTB decision (whether on an eviction application, a rent dispute, or any other matter) and you believe the decision was made in error or that new evidence warrants reconsideration, you will have half the time you currently have to act once these provisions come into force.

This compressed timeline makes it more important than ever to seek legal advice quickly following an LTB decision. Missing the 15-day window will mean losing your right to appeal entirely.

It is worth noting what Bill 60 does not change. Tenants in Ontario continue to be protected by the Residential Tenancies Act in a number of important ways. Rent increase protections remain in place. Landlords are still required to maintain rental units in a good state of repair. Tenants still have the right to quiet enjoyment of their unit. The LTB remains the proper forum for resolving most landlord-tenant disputes, and both parties retain the right to be heard before an order is made.

Bill 60 adjusts certain timelines and removes certain financial obligations, but it does not fundamentally alter the framework of rights and responsibilities that governs Ontario’s rental market.

Whether you are a landlord seeking to understand how the new rules will affect your approach to tenancy management, or a tenant who wants to be fully informed before these changes take effect, now is the right time to get advice. Mistakes made at any stage of the LTB process (Incorrect forms, missed deadlines, inadequate documentation) can cost you the outcome you are entitled to, and the compressed timelines introduced by Bill 60 will leave even less room for error once the provisions come into force.

At Judi Simms Paralegal Professional Corporation, our team has been representing landlords and tenants before the Landlord and Tenant Board for over 30 years. We are monitoring the proclamation of Bill 60’s provisions closely and are ready to advise you on the most effective course of action for your specific situation, both now and when the new rules take effect.

Located in Richmond Hill and serving clients throughout York Region and the Greater Toronto Area (Including Vaughan, Markham, Newmarket, Aurora, and Mississauga) we offer personalized, practical legal support with a proven track record of results.

Call us today at 905-737-9747 or email jsimms@rogers.com to schedule a consultation. We respond to all inquiries within one business day.

Judi Simms Paralegal Professional Corporation – 41 Regent Street, Richmond Hill, ON L4C 9E2

The information contained in this blog post is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The provisions of Bill 60 discussed in this post have not yet come into force. Every situation is unique. If you have questions about how Bill 60 may affect your specific circumstances, please contact our office to speak with a licensed paralegal.