Ontario adds new eviction-delay, persistent-nonpayment and co-op housing rules to the Residential Tenancies regulation

Plain-language summary · AI-assisted · not legal advice

Several new rules are being added to the general regulation under the Residential Tenancies Act, all scheduled to take effect in September 2026. First, 'persistent failure to pay rent' is now defined: missing rent by more than seven days on at least three occasions within any six-month period qualifies, though other patterns can also count. Second, the Landlord and Tenant Board's ability to postpone enforcement of eviction orders is being tightened—postponement without landlord consent now requires both that it would not be unfair to the landlord or other tenants, and (in most cases) that there are compelling grounds. Third, when a tenant asks to set aside an eviction order based on a broken agreement to vacate, the Board cannot consider changes in the tenant's circumstances that arose after the agreement or notice was given. Fourth, tenants raising their own issues at a landlord's rent-arrears hearing must pay any amounts owed at least seven days before the hearing. Finally, parallel rules covering non-profit housing co-operatives are introduced, defining persistent failure to pay monthly housing charges and limiting when eviction enforcement can be postponed for co-op members. A minor wording update also replaces a reference to the 'Construction Lien Act' with 'Construction Act' in the capital expenditure definition.

Who this affects: residential tenants · landlords · non-profit housing co-operative members · non-profit housing co-operatives · Landlord and Tenant Board