Evicting non-paying tenants in Ontario

[ilya]

In Ontario, how hard is it to force non-paying tenants to move out? How late must they be with their payment to start the process?

[nerd]

There's a form to give them 2 or 3 weeks to pay up or get out, if they don't comply it's a long expensive procedure with hearings and +h(5.

http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca

[Bullseye]

You start the process the day they are late. How long it takes to evict depends on how fast you act, how well you know the system, and also how well your tenant knows the system.

[iluvmikeharris]

Just make sure you've followed all the rules. For example, some lanlords try to force tennants to use post-dated cheques. That is illegal to make that a condition of renting to someone. So make sure you've dotted your "I"s and crossed your "T"s.

[Frankie3s]

You should start the proceedings right away because it will definitely take time. When my parents were renting properties (this is one of the reasons they stopped) they went to the town and spoke with the "sheriff" who does the evictions. Sometimes when you serve someone with a legal notice that might be enough to push them out (ours left in the middle of the night and were kind enough to take the 6 month old fridge, how thoughtful).

Hopefully once you serve them notice they'll just pack up and leave saving you the rest of the headache.

[83_gemini]

Commercial tenants have 15 days to pay and then you can terminate etc.

Residential tenants can only be evicted pursuant the relevent legislation. There's a whole process involving the landlord and tenant board.

[dealguy2]

In BC you can post the eviction notice the next day I believe and they gotta be out in 10 days. You have to move fast on this kind of thing.

[ilya]

In BC you can post the eviction notice the next day I believe and they gotta be out in 10 days. You have to move fast on this kind of thing.

BC's laws are very landlord-friendly. Now if only Ontario's were as friendly...

In Quebec, I've heard of landlords recounting nightmarish stories about being unable to evict non-paying tenants for many many months...

Worst case scenario in Ontario, dealing with an un-cooperative sheriff and smart tenants who know the system inside out but refuse to pay, how long does it take to have the housing board force the sheriff to kick them out?

[slowpoke]

I have no personal experience in these matters but I do remember a call-in show and the topic was help for small landlords. (I think it was on City TV in Toronto).

Someone called in and said (based on his experience) that it may be best just to offer a "trouble" tenant some money (a few K) and a good recommendation to the tenant's next landlord to vacate soon. This, the guy said, often gets the tenant out quickly/cleanly and may be wise if you think the person may cause damage to the property. The lessor of two evils I guess in extreme cases.

[DieHardware]

Take away the front door, you need to paint it (too cold to paint it outdoors this time of year) :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

[Frankie3s]

I have no personal experience in these matters but I do remember a call-in show and the topic was help for small landlords. (I think it was on City TV in Toronto).

Someone called in and said (based on his experience) that it may be best just to offer a "trouble" tenant some money (a few K) and a good recommendation to the tenant's next landlord to vacate soon. This, the guy said, often gets the tenant out quickly/cleanly and may be wise if you think the person may cause damage to the property. The lessor of two evils I guess in extreme cases.


Very true and this is why you can't trust other landlord recommendations.

[83_gemini]

There is (well I believe it's starting up) a clinic for landlords in the Toronto Area:

http://www.landlordselfhelp.com/frontpage.asp

They offer information the OP, and others in similar situations, may find useful, and contact information one can use to find further low cost help.