Is the LTB Turning a Corner? A Look at Progress and Predictions for 2025

Ontario landlords have spent years grappling with slow service, backlogged hearings, and drawn-out dispute resolution timelines at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). But two stakeholder memos—one from January and one from May 2025—suggest a new narrative: measurable progress and cautious optimism.

Let’s break it down.

📈 2025 LTB Progress: At a Glance

1) Record-breaking hearings and resolutions in 2024

2) Backlog reduction accelerated from 20% to 26%

3) Introduction of targeted mediation and digital improvements

4) Most orders still issued within 30 days

💡 What This Means for Landlords

• Faster outcomes may finally be within reach. The LTB is clearing more cases, faster—and that means fewer delays for landlords who need rent arrears or eviction matters resolved.
• Digital tools are taking hold. The mandatory use of the Tribunals Ontario Portal (TOP) by legal representatives, along with expanded online mediation, is helping streamline proceedings.
• Dispute Resolution Officers (DROs) are lightening the load. By managing consent orders and adjourned-file mediations, DROs free up adjudicators to focus on contested files.

🔮 What to Expect for the Rest of 2025

If the current pace continues, here’s what landlords might anticipate:

1) Further backlog reduction: With a 6% reduction in just five months, a 30–35% total reduction by year-end is within reach.

2) Shorter wait times for standard and urgent hearings, especially as efficiencies around AGI and consent orders ramp up.

3) Expanded use of pre-hearing mediation, potentially reducing the number of hearings needed.

4) Ongoing feedback loop between the LTB and stakeholders—suggesting more updates and process refinements could be on the way.

 

While the LTB is communicating improvements to the system, there are still loads of reported cases of backlogs causing hardship – 2 quick examples are:

Case 1: Landlord Faces Financial Hardship Amid LTB Delays
Michael Portman, a landlord in Windsor, Ontario, has been unable to evict tenants who allegedly owe him $14,000 in rent and an additional $14,000 for property damages. Despite issuing multiple notices, the tenants have refused to vacate the property, preventing Portman from selling his home. The LTB’s backlog, which includes over 50,000 cases, has resulted in significant delays, with hearings taking up to 10 months to schedule. Portman reports severe stress due to the situation, leading to health issues requiring medication. The LTB has acknowledged the backlog and is working to address it by hiring additional adjudicators and streamlining processes, aiming for improvements in 2024.

Case 2: Landlord Experiences Extended Wait After Hearing Adjournment
A landlord shared on Reddit their experience with the LTB after an L2 application was adjourned in October 2024 at the request of the tenant’s legal representative. The adjudicator indicated the case would be rescheduled within 1–3 months; however, by mid-April 2025, no new hearing date had been provided. Despite multiple follow-ups and a Request to Shorten Time, the landlord received no response and eventually filed a complaint with the Ontario Ombudsman. This case underscores the challenges landlords face with prolonged adjournments and lack of communication from the LTB.

📝 Final Thoughts
While the LTB has made strides in reducing its backlog and improving service delivery, these cases illustrate that significant challenges remain. Landlords continue to face financial and emotional hardships due to prolonged wait times and procedural delays. It’s crucial for landlords to stay informed about the LTB’s ongoing reforms and to seek legal guidance when navigating the tribunal process. As the LTB continues its efforts to enhance efficiency and fairness, stakeholders must remain engaged to ensure that the system effectively serves both landlords and tenants.The signs of turnaround at the LTB are real, but it may take some time (and a ton of continued effort) to truly turn around.

Need help navigating a current LTB matter? We’re here to support you with on staff paralegals who know the ins and outs of the LTB.

For the full memo, see the attached pdf. LTB- Stakeholder Memo – Recent Updates EN