Bill 60 — what changes for N4 timing and the new 50% arrears rule?

Bill 60 (passed 2026) is the biggest set of RTA changes in years. The headline pieces affecting N4 / L1:

**1. Shorter N4 notice period.** The previous 14-day notice is reduced under Bill 60. Check the current N4 form on the LTB site for the exact updated number — the form itself reflects the new period and supersedes any old templates.

**2. New 'persistent late payment' definition.** Bill 60 codifies persistent late payment more strictly. Pattern-based late payments (e.g. 3+ months of consistently late rent within a 12-month period) now meet a clear threshold that historically depended on adjudicator discretion. This makes L1 wins on persistent-late-payment grounds more predictable.

**3. 50% arrears rule at hearing.** Tenants who want to raise certain defences at L1 hearings (most commonly maintenance / T6 counterclaims) now have to pay at least 50% of the alleged arrears into the LTB before the hearing in order to raise those issues. This dramatically reduces 'kitchen sink' counterclaims that used to stall L1s.

**4. Stricter review criteria.** Bill 60 narrows the grounds for tenant review requests after an order issues. Reviews are no longer a near-automatic delay tactic.

**5. New LTB enforcement staff** funded under Bill 60 should bring hearing wait times down over 2026-2027.

For any N4 you serve today: use the current LTB form, calculate the new notice period correctly, and prepare for a much faster L1 process if the tenant doesn't pay.

We maintain a daily-updated Bill 60 page with every regulation change as it lands: https://olhgroup.ca/bill-60-ontario-landlord-updates/

VirtualPM Legal Shield members get N4/L1 prep under the new Bill 60 rules included. Book a free 15-minute consult.