Suspecting a bad faith eviction in Ontario

If you moved because of an N12 or N13 and later question the stated reason, preserve the evidence before it disappears. Relevant material may include new rental advertisements, sale information, communications about occupancy, and dates showing what happened after you left.

A T5 application can address qualifying bad-faith notices and certain failures to honour renovation return rights. Different grounds have different filing deadlines. A general statement that all T5 applications have the same deadline can therefore be misleading. Identify the notice, the reason you moved, and the events supporting the alleged breach. A change in circumstances does not automatically prove the original intention was dishonest. The LTB considers the applicable statutory tests and evidence, including any presumptions and explanations.

Create a chronology beginning with the notice and ending with the developments that caused concern. Record the stated occupant or renovation purpose, any agreement you signed, the date you left, and when you discovered new information. Save advertisements with the page address and capture date, and retain the original files where possible. A photograph or listing may need context to establish which unit is shown and what period it concerns. Avoid drawing conclusions from an undated repost or a listing for a different suite.

Also preserve evidence of your own losses and decisions. Moving invoices, storage charges, rental agreements, and messages about why you left may be relevant to the remedy requested. Explain amounts accurately and distinguish paid expenses from estimates. A landlord may offer an explanation for changed circumstances, and the application should address the applicable legal test rather than assuming every later change proves bad faith. Because the available grounds and deadlines differ, an early review of the actual notice and post-move events is more useful than relying on a general online description.

Sources

• LTB T5 instructions for bad faith and return rights
• LTB N12 instructions updated September 2026

Read next: Responding to landlord harassment or interference

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: House keys on a wooden table · Sealed moving boxes by a window.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.