Ontario’s Bill 60, which received royal assent in November 2025, introduces significant changes to the province’s rental housing framework that will affect how tenant disputes are handled at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Under the new legislation, tenants accused of falling behind on rent will be required to pay half of their alleged debt before they can raise additional issues about their rental unit during a tribunal hearing. The payment must be made to either the landlord or the board itself.
Key Provisions of Bill 60
The mandate for partial payment before a hearing represents one of the most controversial aspects of Bill 60. Critics argue that it creates a financial barrier for tenants who may already be struggling with housing affordability.
Dania Majid, a lawyer at the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario, pointed out that no other area of the judicial system requires cash deposits before legal arguments can be presented, particularly before a tenant is proven to owe the claimed amount.
The legislation also reduces the time tenants have to pay rent from 14 days down to seven days before a landlord can file for an eviction hearing, with this change taking effect in September.
Health and Safety Concerns at Risk
Tenant advocates are particularly concerned about the impact on health and safety claims. Under Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act, tenants can raise issues such as mould, heating failures, and other hazards as grounds for relief from eviction proceedings.
“One of the things tenants often rely on when they’re getting evicted is that there’s massive mould in my bedroom causing my kids asthma and the landlord is refusing to address it,” said Chiara Padovani, an organizer with the Toronto Tenant Union. “And that is grounds for relief of eviction.”
Padovani, who is running for city council in York South-Weston, emphasized that rental agreements are two-way contracts where landlords have obligations to maintain habitable living conditions.
Province Defends Changes
A spokesperson for the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing stated that Bill 60 “restores balance and rebuilds confidence in Ontario’s rental housing market” by protecting responsible tenants while ensuring accountability for those who abuse the system.
The Ministry also highlighted that fines under the Residential Tenancies Act have been doubled as part of broader tenant protection measures.
However, the Ministry declined to clarify whether tenants who are found not to owe rent can recover the money they were required to pay under the new rules.
Widespread Opposition
Toronto city council voted to formally oppose Bill 60, with councillors warning it could contribute to increased homelessness. The bill has also faced criticism from environmental groups, planning experts, and tenant advocacy organizations across the province.
The Federation of Metro Tenants Associations has suggested the payment requirement may be a response to recent rent strike activity, including cases in Thorncliffe Park and Parkdale where tenants organized collectively against landlords.
“A hearing is one of the few occasions where you can actually force the landlord to sit down and meet with you,” said Mason Fitzpatrick, communications director at the federation. “If you can’t use your economic leverage of withholding rent to force them to move on other issues, then you have a lot less power.”
While Daryl Chong of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association said Bill 60 “restores some faith in the landlord and tenant board for landlords,” he did not specifically address the 50 percent payment requirement.
What Tenants Need to Know
The new payment requirements and shortened rent response periods will significantly alter the dynamics of landlord-tenant disputes in Ontario. Tenants facing eviction proceedings should be aware that their ability to raise counterclaims about unit conditions may now come with a financial prerequisite.
Tenant advocacy organizations recommend consulting with legal aid or tenant rights groups before any Landlord and Tenant Board hearing to understand how these changes may affect individual cases.