By the LeasePlain Editorial Team · Checked against Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act per our editorial standards·Last reviewed September 2026
If You Want to Move Out (Month-to-Month)
For a month-to-month tenancy, you must give at least one full month's written notice, received before the last day of the preceding month. So to leave at the end of a month, the landlord must have your notice before that month begins.
Fixed-Term Leases
A fixed-term lease ends on its end date. If you stay past it without a new agreement, it usually continues as a month-to-month tenancy with the same one-month notice rules.
When the Landlord Ends a Tenancy
A landlord needs a valid reason and the right notice, for example:
- Owner or family occupancy: at least two months' notice.
- Unpaid rent: notice once rent is 15 days late (you can usually pay to remedy).
- Other grounds: specific notice periods apply, served through the ORT's process.
What Makes a Notice Valid
Any notice must be in writing, dated, name the rental, and give the correct termination date. Landlord notices are served through the Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT). A defective notice can be disputed — read it carefully before acting.