Preventing Disputes With Tenants in Ontario: Keep the Record
Most disagreements between landlords and tenants aren't really about the law. They're about memory: what was agreed, when it was paid, what was said about the leaky tap. The landlords who have the fewest disputes, and win the ones they can't avoid, are the ones who wrote things down.
Start with the standard lease
In Ontario, new leases must use the province's standard lease template. (Source) It sets out the basics both of you sign up to, so there's less room for "I thought…". Keep the signed copy with the unit, not in an email thread.
Put it in writing, and date it
- Agreements: a new parking spot, a change to who pays hydro, a repair schedule. Confirm it by email or in writing, even if you agreed in person.
- Repairs: log when a tenant reported a problem, when you responded, and when it was fixed.
- Late rent: note the date it was due, the date it arrived and anything the tenant told you.
A dated logbook entry for each of these takes a minute. If a tenancy ever ends up at the Landlord and Tenant Board, it's the record you'll need.
Know what "late" means now
From September 21, 2026, persistent late payment means rent received more than seven days after the due date, at least three times within six months. (Source) A clean ledger with the date each payment arrived shows this at a glance, either way.
Send receipts
A receipt for every rent payment removes a whole class of disputes about what was paid. It's also good practice for cash payments.
Do a move-in inspection
Walk through the unit with the new tenant, note the condition room by room, and take dated photos. Both of you sign. When the tenancy ends, you compare against something you agreed on.
When it does become formal
If rent goes unpaid, the process starts with an N4. For notices given on or after September 21, 2026, the notice period is 7 days. (Source) The details of serving it and filing an L1 are covered in our post on what changed in 2026. For anything contested, talk to a paralegal or lawyer.