The Landlord and Tenant Board is an administrative tribunal, not a court. It operates under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and its own Rules of Practice. Hearings are less formal than Superior Court proceedings, but they are still adversarial — both parties present their case, evidence is tested, and a legally binding order is issued. Going in without preparation, or without understanding how the process works, puts you at a serious disadvantage.
Types of LTB Proceedings
Not every LTB date is a full merits hearing. It helps to know which type of proceeding you have been scheduled for:
Case Management Hearing (CMH)
A Case Management Hearing is a preliminary proceeding, typically short (15–30 minutes), held before a full merits hearing is scheduled. The CMH is used to identify the issues in dispute, explore whether settlement is possible, set timelines for disclosure of evidence, and schedule the merits hearing. Mediation may be offered at a CMH. If the parties settle at a CMH, the terms are recorded in a consent order and no further hearing is needed.
Merits Hearing
The merits hearing is the full hearing where evidence is presented and arguments are made. This is the proceeding where the application is decided. Merits hearings can range from under an hour (for straightforward non-payment matters) to several hours or multiple days (for complex contested evictions, maintenance applications, or multi-issue files).
Motion Hearing
A motion hearing deals with a procedural issue before the merits hearing — for example, a motion to adjourn, a motion to dismiss, or a motion for disclosure. Motions are usually decided at the start of the scheduled hearing or in a separate short proceeding.
How LTB Hearings Are Conducted
The vast majority of LTB hearings are now conducted by videoconference, typically through a web-based platform. Parties receive a link and instructions in advance. In some cases, hearings may be conducted by telephone. In-person hearings at LTB offices do still occur but are less common.
Block hearings are typical for high-volume matters like L1 applications (eviction for non-payment). In a block hearing, multiple cases are scheduled in the same time block before the same adjudicator. Your case will be called when the previous matter concludes — there is often a wait. Be available and ready to connect from the scheduled start time.
Connect early. Technical problems — a microphone that doesn't work, a camera that won't load, a dropped connection — are not grounds for an automatic adjournment. Connect at least 15 minutes before your scheduled time to test everything. Have a phone number ready as a backup in case the video connection fails.
Before the Hearing: Disclosure
Both parties are required to disclose their evidence to the other side before the hearing — typically at least 5 days in advance, though the LTB's Rules of Practice set out specific timelines depending on the application type. Evidence not disclosed in advance may be excluded by the adjudicator, or the hearing may be adjourned to allow the other party to respond — which delays resolution and can result in a costs order against you.
Disclosure means providing copies of all documents you intend to rely on: notices, payment records, ledgers, photographs, emails, texts, inspection reports, leases, and any other relevant materials. Both parties should also exchange a list of any witnesses they intend to call.
What Happens on Hearing Day
The adjudicator calls the case. Both parties identify themselves and confirm whether they are self-represented or have a representative. The adjudicator will briefly review the nature of the application and confirm the issues to be decided.
Before evidence begins, any preliminary matters are addressed: motions, jurisdictional challenges, requests to adjourn, or objections to evidence. If a party raises a procedural issue that requires argument, the adjudicator will hear it at this stage before proceeding to the merits.
The party who filed the application presents their case first. They give evidence (testimony), introduce documents, and may call witnesses. The adjudicator may ask questions directly. The opposing party then has the right to cross-examine — to ask questions that challenge the evidence or the witness's credibility.
The responding party presents their evidence, introduces documents, and may call witnesses. The applicant then cross-examines. At LTB hearings, cross-examination is typically focused and controlled — the adjudicator will intervene if questions are irrelevant or repetitive.
After evidence is complete, each party makes legal submissions — arguments about what the evidence shows and what order the Board should make. The applicant goes first; the respondent replies. Submissions should be focused on the legal issues, not a repetition of the facts already in evidence.
The adjudicator may give an oral decision at the end of the hearing, or reserve the decision and issue a written order within days or weeks. Oral decisions are common in straightforward matters; reserved decisions are more common in complex or contested files.
How to Prepare Your Evidence
Organisation is everything at an LTB hearing. Adjudicators handle many cases per day. A clearly organised evidence package — numbered, labelled, and easy to navigate — makes your case easier to follow and signals that you are prepared and credible.
- Number every document. Refer to them by number during the hearing: "I'm referring to Document 3, the rent ledger for the period January through June."
- Put documents in chronological order where possible, or group them by issue.
- Include only what is relevant. Submitting 200 pages of loosely related emails dilutes your strongest evidence and frustrates the adjudicator.
- Prepare a brief written summary of your position if the matter is complex — one or two pages outlining the key facts and what order you are seeking.
- Know your documents. You should be able to explain what each document is, when it was created, and why it is relevant without fumbling.
The Adjudicator's Role
LTB adjudicators are neutral. They are not advocates for either side and will not help a self-represented party make their case. However, adjudicators do ask questions — sometimes substantive ones — to clarify the evidence or fill gaps. Do not interpret a question as an attack; it is usually an attempt to understand.
Adjudicators will control the pace and scope of the hearing. They can limit cross-examination, exclude irrelevant evidence, and cut off submissions that are repetitive or off-point. Following the adjudicator's direction without argument is important — procedural disputes with the adjudicator rarely help your case.
If You Miss Your Hearing
If you do not attend your hearing, the LTB may proceed in your absence and issue an order based solely on the other party's evidence. For landlords, this means a default eviction order. For tenants, it means losing without being heard.
If you missed a hearing due to circumstances beyond your control — a medical emergency, not receiving the Notice of Hearing — you may be able to file a Request to Review on the basis that you were not reasonably able to participate in the proceeding. For orders issued on or after July 1, 2026, a Request to Review must generally be filed within 15 days. This is not guaranteed to succeed and should be treated as a last resort, not a plan.
There is no automatic right to reschedule. The LTB does not adjourn hearings on request — adjournments are discretionary and granted only for legitimate reasons. If you need more time to prepare, contact a paralegal as early as possible so a proper adjournment request can be made before the hearing date.
After the Hearing: Orders and Enforcement
Once an order is issued, it is legally binding. A tenant who does not comply with a payment order or vacate by the date specified risks Sheriff enforcement. A landlord who does not comply with a repair order faces further proceedings and potential fines.
An LTB order may be reviewed in limited circumstances. For orders issued on or after July 1, 2026, a Request to Review must generally be filed within 15 days. The grounds include that a party was not reasonably able to participate in the proceeding, that the order is the consequence of a serious error, or that new evidence could not reasonably have been obtained before the decision and would likely have affected the result. A review is not simply an opportunity to have the case heard again because a party disagrees with the outcome.
Related Guides
- Understanding the N4 Notice — the first step in non-payment eviction proceedings
- The N12 Notice: Own Use Eviction — requirements, compensation, and bad-faith risks
- How to Fight an Eviction — tenant defences and how to prepare for the hearing
Have a Hearing Coming Up?
Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, going into an LTB hearing prepared makes a measurable difference. Jolanta can review your file, help you organise your evidence, and represent you at the hearing. Call to discuss your matter.
Call 226-240-4460