How long does it take to get an LTB hearing in Ontario?

It varies widely by application type and can shift month to month. Through the backlog years, many tenant and landlord applications waited several months — and in some periods close to a year — for a first hearing. Check Tribunals Ontario's published service standards for the most current wait-time figures, as they are actively changing.

Why is the Landlord and Tenant Board so backlogged?

The backlog built up from a combination of a pandemic-era pause on hearings, a shift to a digital-first hearing model, adjudicator vacancies, and rising application volumes. Ontario has since appointed more adjudicators and staff to work the backlog down, but delays remain significant.

Does the backlog affect tenant applications too?

Yes. The delay isn't only about evictions. Tenant applications — such as a T2 about interference with your rights or a T6 about maintenance and repairs — also sit in the queue. Long waits can leave tenants living with unresolved problems, which is why documenting everything early matters.

Can I do anything to speed up my LTB case?

You can't jump the queue, but you can avoid delays caused by your own file: submit a complete and correct application, include your evidence, respond promptly to any notices, attend every scheduled event, and keep your contact information current. Urgent issues (like a serious maintenance hazard) can sometimes be raised for expedited treatment.

Should I still file with the LTB if the wait is long?

In most cases, yes. Filing starts the clock, preserves your rights, and creates an official record. Many issues also settle before the hearing through the LTB's mediation process, which can resolve things faster than waiting for a full adjudicated hearing.

Home BlogHow Long Does the LTB Take in 2026?

OntarioAugust 3, 20267 min read

How Long Does the LTB Take in 2026? The Backlog, Explained for Tenants

The single biggest story in Ontario's rental system isn't a law — it's a queue. The Landlord and Tenant Board's backlog shapes how long every dispute takes, and it affects tenants far more than most people realize. Here's what to expect and how to keep your case moving.

What the Wait Actually Looks Like

There is no single number, and anyone who quotes you one with confidence is guessing. Wait times at the LTB vary by application type and shift from month to month. Through the backlog years, it was common for applications to wait several months— and in some periods close to a year — before a first hearing.

Because the figures move, the reliable move is to check Tribunals Ontario's published service standards for the current quarter rather than relying on a number you read somewhere last year. Treat any estimate — including in this article — as a rough sense of scale, not a promise.

How the Backlog Built Up

The delay wasn't caused by one thing. It grew out of several pressures stacking on top of each other:

A pandemic-era pause on hearings that created a large initial pileup.
A shift to a digital-first, video-hearing model that took time to settle in.
Adjudicator vacancies, leaving fewer decision-makers than the caseload needed.
Rising application volumes in a tight, high-cost rental market.

Ontario has responded by appointing additional adjudicators and staff to work the backlog down. Progress has been real but uneven — which is why waits remain a defining feature of the system in 2026.

It's Not Just About Evictions

Coverage of the backlog tends to focus on landlords waiting to evict. But the same queue holds tenant applications, and for renters the delay can mean living with an unresolved problem for months. The two most common tenant filings caught in it:

T2 — Rights applications: for things like a landlord entering illegally, harassment, or interfering with your reasonable enjoyment of the unit.
T6 — Maintenance applications: for a landlord failing to repair or maintain the unit.

A long wait is exactly why you should document problems from day one — dated photos, written repair requests, and records of every interaction. If you eventually get a hearing many months later, that contemporaneous evidence is what wins the case. Our guides on getting your landlord to make repairs and illegal landlord entry cover how to build that record.

How to Keep Your Case Moving

You can't skip the line, but you can avoid delays that are your own file's fault:

File a complete, correct application the first time — errors and missing information cause the biggest self-inflicted delays.
Include your evidence and organize it clearly.
Respond quickly to every notice from the Board and keep your contact details current.
Attend every scheduled event — missing one can get your application dismissed.
Consider mediation: many cases settle through the LTB's mediation process well before a full hearing, which is often the fastest route to a resolution.

Filing still matters even when the wait is long: it preserves your rights, starts the official record, and opens the door to an earlier settlement.