LANDLORD AND TENANT BOARD SUSPENDS HEARINGS

The Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board suspended hearings today for an indefinite period out of health concerns surrounding the Coronavirus. The suspension comes on the heels of unprecedented delays resulting from a shortage of adjudicators and staff which has seen the length of time necessary to evict a tenant grow considerably in past months. In some locations such as Durham region the length of time to get a hearing had grown from the typical 4-6 weeks to in excess of 5 months prior to the shutdown.

In addition the Coronavirus threatens to have broader economic impact in terms of wages and tenant income. The combined effect of these stresses and the ability to upload them onto landlords has the potential to cause significant financial distress.

Meanwhile, several U.S. municipalities have imposed a moratorium on evictions to accommodate the economic stress arising from current conditions.