Landlords who call the LTB looking for guidance on how to proceed are often frustrated by what they get. The LTB does provide information — but there is an important distinction between information and legal advice. Understanding that difference can save you from a costly mistake.
What the LTB Will Tell You
LTB staff can tell you which forms to use, explain the general process for different application types, provide filing instructions, and point you to published resources. They will explain what a form asks for but will not tell you how to answer it in a way that best supports your case.
What the LTB Will Not Tell You
The LTB will not advise you on whether your situation meets the legal threshold for a particular notice. They will not review your N4 or N12 before you serve it. They will not tell you if you have a strong or weak case. That is legal advice — and it is not their role.
Why This Matters in Practice
A landlord who serves a flawed N12 based on information they gathered from the LTB phone line is in the same position as one who made no inquiry at all. The error shows up at the hearing, not before. By then, the 60-day notice period has already run, the hearing date is months away, and starting over means another 60 days from scratch.
Adjudicators Are Neutral
At the hearing itself, the adjudicator cannot give you advice on how to present your case. They can explain procedural rules, but they will not coach you or tell you what evidence you are missing. If the tenant has a representative and you do not, that is an uneven playing field.
Where to Get Actual Legal Advice
A licensed paralegal in Ontario can represent landlords at the LTB and provide advice on your specific situation. Community Legal Clinics may offer assistance to tenants but generally do not represent landlords. The LTB website has a resources section — but reading the Act yourself is not the same as having someone apply it to your facts.
What Comes Next
Stonegate provides actual legal advice and representation for Ontario landlords at the LTB. Book a free call at https://calendly.com/stonegatelegalservices/20min.
▶ Watch: Ontario LTB, Landlord Tenant Board, Adjudicators – Interview with Gary McGowan
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