Plain-English guides for small Ontario landlords

For people renting out a room, a basement or a single unit in Ontario. Every guide is written in plain English, updated for the September 21, 2026 LTB changes, and linked to the official source so you can check it yourself.

• Sept 21, 2026 LTB Changes Explained for Ontario Landlords

  Plain-English summary of the Sept 21, 2026 Landlord and Tenant Board changes: 7-day N4, persistent late payment, N12 with 120 days' notice, half-arrears rule and new forms.

• How to Serve an N4 in Ontario (2026 7-Day Rule)

  Step-by-step guide to the Ontario N4 notice after Sept 21, 2026: the 7-day termination date, how to count days, mail and courier rules, and when you can file the L1.

• Ontario Rent Increase Guideline 2027: 1.9%

  Ontario's 2027 rent increase guideline is 1.9% (2026 was 2.1%). How to calculate it, the 12-month and 90-day notice rules, exempt post-2018 units, and deposit interest.

• Ontario Rent Receipt Rules + Free Rent Receipt Template

  Do Ontario landlords have to give rent receipts? Yes, free, on request, including for former tenants within 12 months. What to include, plus a free printable template.

• Renting Rooms in Your Home in Ontario: When Does the RTA Apply?

  The Ontario RTA exemption for shared kitchens and bathrooms only applies when the renter shares with the owner or close family who live there. Scenarios, pitfalls and what still applies.

• How to Screen Tenants from Kijiji & Facebook Messages (Ontario)

  A small Ontario landlord's practical method for screening rental inquiries from Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace: first-message signals, fair questions, scams, and Human Rights Code limits.

• Ontario Move-In Inspection Checklist for Landlords (2026)

  Ontario doesn't require a move-in inspection report, but it's your best evidence at move-out. A room-by-room checklist, photo tips, and safety items to test at every move-in.

• N12 Notice Ontario: Landlord's Own Use Guide (2026 120-Day Rule)

  How an Ontario landlord gives an N12 to move in themselves or a family member: who qualifies, 60 vs 120 days' notice, compensation, worked dates, the L2 and bad-faith risks.

• Last Month's Rent Deposit in Ontario: Rules + Interest (2026/2027)

  Ontario landlords can collect only a last month's rent deposit, not a damage deposit. The limits, yearly interest at the guideline rate (2.1% in 2026, 1.9% in 2027), top-ups and a worked example.

• Ontario Standard Lease (Form 2229E): A Small Landlord's Guide

  When Ontario landlords must use the standard lease, which version, how to fill in each section for a basement unit, what additional terms are void, the 21-day rule, and what to use for a shared room.

Not legal advice. This site is general information written by a small Ontario landlord, based on official Ontario and Tribunals Ontario sources as of October 22, 2026. Laws and LTB forms change; check the linked official source before you act, and talk to a lawyer or licensed paralegal (or call the LTB at 1-888-332-3234) about your situation. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, Tribunals Ontario or the Landlord and Tenant Board. Full disclaimer.