BILL 60 - What it means for Tenants & Landlords?

Ontario’s new legislation, Bill 60: The Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, introduces sweeping changes across housing, development, and municipal governance. While much of the public discussion has focused on infrastructure and planning, some of the most immediate impacts may be felt through its updates to the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) — the tribunal responsible for resolving disputes between landlords and tenants.

One of the key changes introduced by Bill 60 is a new eviction rule that allows landlords to apply for eviction based on a tenant’s “persistent failure to pay rent.” Even if a tenant eventually catches up on rent, repeated delays could now be considered grounds for ending a tenancy. The government says this will help reduce delays at the LTB, where long backlogs have frustrated both landlords and tenants waiting for resolution. The change also limits the Board’s ability to exercise discretion in such cases, which may result in faster decisions but also raises questions about fairness, particularly for low-income renters.

The legislation also affects how landlords can end a tenancy for their own use. Previously, landlords were generally required to provide compensation — usually one month’s rent — if they planned to move into the unit or house a close family member. Under the new rules, that compensation can be reduced or waived, especially for small landlords who meet notice requirements. This adjustment is intended to give property owners more flexibility, but critics argue it could lead to more evictions under the guise of personal use, especially in tight rental markets.

Bill 60 also increases penalties for landlords who evict tenants in bad faith — for example, by claiming personal use, then relisting the unit at a higher rent. While the higher fines are meant to discourage abuse, enforcement remains a challenge. Tenants are often the ones expected to prove that a bad-faith eviction occurred, usually after they’ve already left their home.

Another important but less visible change is the expanded authority for the government to revise LTB procedures through regulation. This means key aspects of the process — including notice periods, application forms, and timelines — could be updated without requiring new legislation or public consultation. This may allow for more flexible rule-making, but it also limits transparency and stakeholder input.

Together, these changes reflect the government's broader effort to move faster on housing-related issues by cutting red tape and streamlining processes. For landlords, this could mean quicker resolution of disputes and fewer procedural delays. For tenants, however, the changes raise concerns about reduced protections and the risk of being pushed out with little recourse.

As with many policy shifts, the real impact of Bill 60 will come down to how it’s implemented — and whether the promise of efficiency can be delivered without sacrificing fairness.