How to fill out an N9 form in Ontario

What the N9 form is and when to use it

Form N9, Tenant's Notice to End the Tenancy, is the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) form an Ontario tenant uses to tell a landlord in writing that they are moving out. You use it when leaving is your own decision, not because the landlord gave you a notice.

You give the N9 to your landlord. You do not file it with the LTB. Its job is to create a clear written record of your move out date and to show that you gave the notice the law requires.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. The LTB updates its forms from time to time, so download the current official N9 and read its instructions before you rely on any date.

Check that the N9 is the right form

The N9 fits most ordinary move outs, but Ontario has other forms for other situations. Picking the right one first saves you from giving a notice that does not work.

Your situation	What usually applies
You have decided to move out at the end of your term or rental period	Form N9, from tenant to landlord
You and your landlord both agree to end the tenancy on a date you choose together	Form N11, Agreement to End the Tenancy
You want to leave before a fixed term ends and the landlord does not agree	An N9 cannot end a fixed term early. Ask about an N11, an assignment, or a sublet, and get advice.
You need to leave quickly because of violence or abuse	The LTB has a separate notice, Form N15, with a shorter notice period. Read the LTB's guidance or contact a legal clinic.
Your landlord gave you a notice, such as an N12	Different rules apply. Read the notice you received and the LTB's information on it.

How much notice the N9 requires

The Residential Tenancies Act sets the minimum notice, and it depends on how you pay rent. At the time of writing, the LTB's instructions for the N9 say a tenant who pays by the month or year, or who has a fixed term lease, must give at least 60 days' notice, and a tenant who pays by the day or week must give at least 28 days' notice. Confirm this on the current form, because the instructions printed on the official N9 are what count.

Two rules about the termination date matter as much as the number of days:

• It must be the last day of a rental period. If you pay rent on the first of each month, your rental period ends on the last day of the month, so your termination date should be a month end.
• In a fixed term lease, it cannot be earlier than the last day of the term. You can give the N9 during the term, but the date you choose cannot fall before the term ends.

The LTB instructions describe a small number of exceptions, including one for February. Read them if your dates are tight.

A worked example of choosing the termination date

Suppose you rent month to month, you pay on the first, and you want to be out by the end of November. Your termination date is November 30, the last day of that rental period. Count back at least 60 days from November 30 and you arrive at the start of October. To be safe, you would hand your landlord the N9 before the end of September, which also leaves room if you deliver it by a method that adds days.

If you gave the notice in the middle of October instead, a November 30 date would be short of the minimum. The next date that works would be December 31. A notice with a date that is too early can be treated as ineffective, so count carefully and leave yourself a margin.

How to fill out the N9, field by field

The form is short. Use the exact names and address from your lease so there is no doubt about which tenancy the notice ends.

1. To: landlord's name. Enter the landlord's full name as it appears on your lease. If a company owns the building, use the company name.
2. From: tenant's name. List every tenant who is ending the tenancy. If there are several tenants on the lease, include all of them.
3. Address of the rental unit. Write the full address with the unit number and postal code.
4. Termination date. Enter the last day of your tenancy, chosen by the rules above. Write the date in the format the form asks for.
5. Signature section. Tick whether the person signing is the tenant or a representative, then print the name, add a phone number, sign, and date the form. If a representative signs, the form has a space for their details.

You can complete these fields on screen with the fillable Form N9 helper, then download the PDF. If you downloaded the official PDF from the LTB, open it with fill a PDF and add your signature with sign PDF. Your file stays in your browser on your own device.

How to give the N9 to your landlord

Deliver the notice by one of the methods the LTB accepts, and keep proof. The LTB's instructions list the accepted methods. They include handing it to the landlord or the landlord's agent and sending it by mail, and some methods, such as mail, add extra days before the notice counts as received. Email is only acceptable where the landlord has agreed to it in writing, so do not assume a text or an email is enough.

• Keep a copy of the signed form.
• Write down the date, the time, and the method you used to deliver it.
• If you hand it over in person, ask the landlord to sign and date your copy.
• If you mail it, add the extra days from the LTB instructions to your count and keep the mailing receipt.

What happens after you give notice

Once a valid N9 is given, the tenancy ends on the termination date, and you are expected to move out by then. Keep these points in mind:

• Rent is still due up to the termination date. If you paid a last month's rent deposit, it is normally applied to your final month. Check your lease and your receipts.
• The landlord can show the unit to new tenants after notice has been given, within the rules the Act sets for entry.
• If you do not move out by the date on the N9, the landlord can apply to the LTB for an order to end the tenancy based on your notice. If your plans change, talk to your landlord early and get any new arrangement in writing.
• Ask for rent receipts if you do not already have them. The Ontario rent receipt form makes that easy for the landlord.

Common N9 mistakes

• Picking a termination date that is not the last day of a rental period.
• Counting the notice period from the day you signed the form, not the day the landlord received it.
• Trying to use an N9 to end a fixed term lease before the term is over.
• Leaving a tenant's name off when several people are on the lease.
• Sending the notice by text message or email without the landlord's written agreement to that method.
• Using an outdated copy of the form. Always get the current version from the LTB.
• Keeping no copy and no proof of delivery.

A moving out checklist for Ontario tenants

• Read your lease for the term end date and how rent is paid.
• Choose a termination date that is the last day of a rental period and gives the full notice.
• Complete and sign the N9, with every tenant included.
• Deliver it by an accepted method and keep proof.
• Confirm in writing how your last month's rent deposit will be applied.
• Book the elevator or movers if your building requires it.
• Take dated photos of the unit when you leave and return all keys.
• Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing. Our guide to writing a Canadian address shows the correct format.

Next step

Open the fillable Ontario LTB Form N9, enter your details, and download your copy. It is free and needs no account. If you are signing a new lease at the same time, the Ontario standard lease page explains what that form asks for. For questions about your own situation, contact the Landlord and Tenant Board or a community legal clinic.