Ontario N4 Timeline Guide · Updated for 2026
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Receiving or serving an N4 does not mean a tenant has already been evicted. Form N4 is a notice to end a tenancy early for non-payment of rent. What happens next depends on whether the arrears are paid, whether the notice was completed and served correctly, and whether the landlord later files an application with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB).
General information only: This is not legal advice. Always use the current Tribunals Ontario forms and instructions.
Step 1: The landlord serves Form N4
The N4 identifies the rent the landlord says is owing and provides a termination date. For an N4 given on or after September 21, 2026, the minimum termination period is generally 7 days. See the 2026 Ontario rental-rule changes overview for the related September 21 reforms. The landlord should calculate the arrears carefully and follow the current N4 instructions for the termination date and service.
For the fundamentals, start with our N4 Notice in Ontario guide.
Step 2: The tenant checks the amount claimed
The tenant should compare the N4 against rent receipts, bank records and the tenancy’s rent ledger. Amounts that are not legally rent should not simply be added to an N4 as rent arrears.
Step 3: The tenant may be able to void the N4
The current N4 process allows the notice to be voided where the tenant pays the required rent arrears within the applicable period. Tenants should verify the exact amount and deadline on the current notice and instructions rather than relying on an informal calculation.
Step 4: An unresolved N4 may lead to an LTB application
If the arrears remain unresolved and the statutory requirements are met, the landlord may be able to file the applicable LTB application, commonly an L1 application for eviction and rent arrears. The N4 itself is not an eviction order.
Step 5: The tenant receives the LTB proceeding information
If an application proceeds, the parties should carefully review the LTB documents and hearing information. Both sides should organize a current rent ledger, proof of payments, the tenancy agreement, the N4 and proof of service.
Step 6: Payment arrangements may be relevant
Landlords and tenants can sometimes resolve arrears through payment. Any arrangement should be documented clearly, including the amount of current rent and the amount being applied toward arrears.
Step 7: The LTB decides the application
If the matter is not resolved, the LTB may determine the arrears and whether an eviction order or other relief should be granted. The outcome depends on the evidence and applicable law.
Step 8: An eviction order is different from an N4
Even after an order is issued, a landlord cannot personally perform a self-help eviction. Where an eviction order becomes enforceable and the tenant has not left, enforcement is through the Court Enforcement Office (Sheriff).
Changing the locks to force out a tenant before lawful possession is recovered can create a separate legal problem. See Can a Landlord Change the Locks in Ontario?
Landlord N4 documentation checklist
- Tenancy agreement and lawful rent amount
- Detailed rent ledger
- Copies of receipts and payment records
- Completed N4
- Proof of service
- Tenant communications
- Any written payment arrangement
- Updated arrears calculation
Tenant N4 documentation checklist
- Copy of the N4
- Lease or tenancy records
- Rent receipts and bank records
- Proof of payments made after the N4
- Written communications with the landlord
- LTB notices and documents
Frequently asked questions
Does an N4 mean I have to leave immediately?
No. An N4 is a notice of termination, not an eviction order.
Can a landlord change the locks after serving an N4?
No. Serving an N4 does not authorize a landlord to lock a tenant out.
Should a tenant ignore an N4 if the amount is wrong?
No. The tenant should document the disagreement, keep payment evidence and respond appropriately to any later LTB proceeding.
Official sources
Verify current procedures using the Tribunals Ontario forms and instructions and the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.
Related tools: Ontario Rent Arrears Ledger, N4 Planning Worksheet and LTB: What to Expect.