Dear OREIO members,

The following has been provided by our partner EOLO for OREIO. It outlines more concisely the latest changes to the LTB. A link to the original memo is also included.

While we recommend you use a legal professional (such as a paralegal) for Landlord Tenant Board (LTB) matters, this is very important for those of you who interact with the LTB directly.

New LTB procedures as of TODAY and other dates this month

December 7, 2021

On December 7, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) issued a statement about important changes to its procedures, one of which takes effect at 6 pm on December 7.

Those of you who file and process your own applications should read the whole statement. It can be found here.

This e-Newsletter provides the key information about the changes.

Tribunals Ontario Portal to open on December 8, 2021.

As of 2 pm December 8, the LTB will be using a new case management system for most new files– the Tribunals Ontario Portal. Landlords and tenants will be required to use the portal to:

• Submit L1, L2, T2 and T6 applications (including combined L1/L2 and T2/T6 applications)
• Pay application fees
• Upload evidence directly

On an optional basis, the portal can be used to:

• View and exchange documents with other parties
• Use the dispute resolution tool to communicate with other parties
• Ask for assistance from an LTB Dispute Resolution Officer

Changes to the LTB’s e-File system

You will no longer be able to file L1, L2, T2 or T6 applications using the LTB’s e-File system as at 6 p.m, December 7, 2021.

Applicants can continue file all other application types by email, other than AGI applications and co-operative housing applications (co-ops), and to pay online.

AGI applications must continue to be filed by courier or mail, or through a ServiceOntario office, for the time being.

Effective December 15, 2021, payment for co-op applications must be submitted online through the LTB’s payment portal. A copy of the payment receipt must accompany the co-op application when filed by email at Co-opprocessingLTB@ontario.ca.

Other changes and rules

Effective December 31, 2021, the LTB fax machines will be decommissioned.

The LTB will continue to accept all applications by mail and courier. Over 60 ServiceOntario offices throughout Ontario will continue to accept LTB applications filed in in-person.

File Numbers and checking status

Applications filed and processed on the portal will no longer be assigned a regionally based file number. Instead, they will start “LTB”.

New files that are NOT an L1, L2, T2 and T6, will be numbered using the current format based on the region (e.g.EAL-12345-21). All existing files will retain their regionally based file number.

All NEW L1, L2, T2 and T6 applications will be processed in the Tribunals Ontario Portal. You can check the status of these files by logging into the portal.

All other applications will be processed in the LTB’s current case management system – CMORE. To check the status of any file that is being processed in CMORE, you must continue to use the Check File Status tool on the LTB website.

Filing Evidence and Other Documents

The LTB’s evidence email address (LTB.Evidence@ontario.ca) and all regional email addresses will be limited to use for files in CMORE only – that is, for all applications OTHER THAN NEW L1, L2, T2 and T6 applications being processed in the Tribunals Ontario Portal.

Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) – a new step in the process

Parties will be able to use the dispute resolution tool in the Tribunals Ontario Portal to communicate with other parties, or to ask for assistance from an LTB Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) to implement an agreement.

If at the end of two weeks, the parties have not reached an agreement, the application will be added to the scheduling queue based on application type and filing date, and the LTB will schedule the hearing. Negotiation or mediation can also happen later in the process without delaying the hearing date.

Dispute Resolution Officers will continue to be available at the L1/L9 and L2 hearings blocks for same-day mediation.

Conclusion

The LTB asks for patience from its users in the early days of the new system.

John Dickie

Chair, Easter Ontario Landlord Organization