How to File an L1 on the Tribunals Ontario Portal

Once your N4 termination date has passed without payment, the L1 is filed online through the Tribunals Ontario Portal. This is a practical walkthrough of the filing process — from account setup to uploading your exhibits and paying the fee — so your application isn't held up on a technicality.

Before You File: What You Need

You can only file the L1 the day after the N4 termination date passes without the tenant paying in full or moving out. Have these ready before you start:

• The signed and served N4 notice
• The completed Certificate of Service
• The signed lease and a complete rent ledger
• A credit card for the filing fee

Step-by-Step: Filing the L1 Online

1. 1. Sign in to the Tribunals Ontario Portal. Create an account at tribunalsontario.ca if you don't have one, and verify your email. Use the legal landlord's details — the corporation if the unit is held by one, not the property manager.
2. 2. Start a new L1 application. Choose the L1 — "Application to Evict a Tenant for Non-payment of Rent and to Collect Rent the Tenant Owes."
3. 3. Add the rental unit and tenancy. Enter the rental address exactly as it appears on the lease and N4, including the unit number.
4. 4. Add every respondent. List each adult tenant named on the N4. A tenant left off the N4 can't be added here — the notice and the application have to match.
5. 5. Enter the rent owing. Enter the arrears from the N4, updated to the current amount, and add the filing fee to the money order you're claiming back.
6. 6. Upload your exhibits. Attach the served N4 and the Certificate of Service. Label files clearly (e.g. "N4-notice.pdf", "Certificate-of-Service.pdf") so the adjudicator can find them.
7. 7. Pay the filing fee. $186 by credit card when filing online (see below).
8. 8. Submit and save the confirmation. Download or screenshot the confirmation — it establishes your filing date, which is what proves you didn't file before the N4 termination date.

Filing Fee: $186 Online / $201 by Mail

As of 2026, the L1 filing fee is $186 when filed online through the Tribunals Ontario Portal, or $201 by mail or in person. Online filing is cheaper and usually processed faster. The fee is paid to Tribunals Ontario and can be added to the money order you claim back from the tenant if the eviction is granted. Confirm the current fee on the Tribunals Ontario website before you pay, as fees are updated periodically.

After You File

The LTB schedules a hearing — currently 4–8 months out — and both sides receive a notice of hearing. Between filing and the hearing, keep your rent calculation updated to the hearing date and organize your exhibits. See the L1 evidence checklist for exactly what to bring and how to present it, and the L1 application overview for the full N4 → L1 → hearing → Sheriff sequence.

L1 Filing FAQs

Disclaimer: This guide is a document-preparation aid, not legal advice. The L1 process is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and Landlord and Tenant Board practice. Confirm current fees, forms, and procedures with Tribunals Ontario, and consult a licensed paralegal or lawyer for advice specific to your situation.