Ontario N4 and N12 Notices Explained for Landlords
N4 and N12 are two of the most-used Landlord and Tenant Board notice forms in Ontario, and they exist for very different reasons. This page is a structural outline of the full guide we're building — it maps out what each notice covers, not a substitute for reviewing your specific situation with a paralegal or lawyer.
This guide is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute formal legal advice. Landlord-tenant laws in Ontario change frequently. Before serving notices or taking legal action, consult a licensed paralegal or lawyer regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
Published September 24, 2026 · Last updated September 24, 2026
Here's what the full article on this topic will cover, section by section.
What an N4 notice is for
- When non-payment of rent makes an N4 the right form
- The minimum notice period before you can file with the LTB
- What information the form must include to be valid
- How a tenant can void the notice by paying what's owed in full before it expires
- Filing an L1 application once the notice period has passed
What an N12 notice is for
- Who is allowed to use an N12 — the landlord, a purchaser, or specified family members
- The minimum notice period and how it must align with the tenancy's rental period
- Compensation the landlord is required to pay the tenant
- The good-faith requirement and how the LTB has been scrutinizing N12 filings
- Filing an L2 application after the notice period
N4 vs. N12 at a glance
- Reason for the notice
- Required notice period
- Compensation obligations, if any
- How each notice can be challenged or disputed by a tenant
Mistakes that get applications dismissed
- Using an outdated version of the LTB form
- Miscounting the notice period
- Serving the notice incorrectly under the Board's service rules
- Missing or late compensation on an N12
What happens after the notice is served
- Filing with the LTB and what the application triggers
- Rough sense of hearing timelines (see our LTB hearing timelines guide)
- A tenant's options to respond or dispute
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