N12 Notice Ontario: Personal Use Eviction Guide
A complete guide to the N12 (Notice to End Tenancy for Landlord's Own Use) in Ontario. The one-month compensation requirement still applies until Bill 60 is proclaimed in force, and good-faith requirements remain.
Bill 60 status: not yet in force as of May 2026
Bill 60 received Royal Assent on November 27, 2025, but the section removing the N12 one-month compensation requirement is not yet proclaimed in force. As of May 2026 you must still pay one month’s rent in compensation before the termination date of every N12. See the Bill 60 implementation status guide →
2026 update: the LTB rejects L2 applications without the affidavit and 2-year disclosure
The Affidavit of the Person Moving In (RTA s. 72(1)) and the 2-year N12/N13 disclosure must be filed with every L2. Missing either gets the application thrown out.Read the 2026 filing rules guide →
Bill 60: pending change to N12 compensation
Bill 60 will remove the requirement for landlords to pay one month rent compensation when evicting for personal use, once the relevant section is proclaimed in force. Until then, the compensation requirement still applies. Bad faith evictions remain illegal with statutory fines up to $50,000 (rising to $100,000 once Bill 60 is proclaimed).Learn about all Bill 60 changes →
What is the N12 Notice?
The N12 (Notice to End your Tenancy Because the Landlord, a Purchaser or a Family Member Requires the Rental Unit) is used when a landlord or specific family members genuinely need to move into a rental unit that is currently occupied by a tenant.
This is commonly known as "personal use" or "own use" eviction. It is one of the few ways a landlord can end a tenancy without the tenant being at fault.
Who Can You Evict For?
The N12 can be used when the rental unit is required by:
- Yourself (the landlord)
- Your spouse
- A child or parent of you or your spouse
- A caregiver who provides care to any of the above
- A purchaser who has entered an agreement to buy the property (or their family member)
Good Faith Requirement
The N12 can only be used if the person genuinely intends to move in for at least one year. Using an N12 in bad faith (to get rid of a tenant and re-rent at higher rates) carries severe penalties including fines up to $50,000 for individuals.
N12 Notice Requirements
How to Issue an N12 Notice
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
Ensure the person who will occupy the unit is an eligible individual (yourself, spouse, parent, child, or caregiver). The need must be genuine, not a pretext to remove the tenant.
Step 2: Download the Current N12 Form
Get the current N12 form from Tribunals Ontario. Using an outdated form can invalidate your notice.
Step 3: Complete the Form
Fill out all required information:
- Tenant name(s) as they appear on the lease
- Rental unit address
- Who will be occupying the unit and their relationship to you
- Termination date (at least 60 days, last day of rental period)
- Your signature and date
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Step 4: Complete the Declaration
The N12 includes a declaration that the unit is genuinely required for personal use. This declaration is made under oath, and providing false information can result in penalties.
Step 5: Serve the Notice
Serve the N12 to your tenant using an acceptable method and keep proof of service.
Step 6: File L2 Application (If Tenant Does Not Leave)
If the tenant does not move out by the termination date, you must file an L2 application with the LTB. The tenant has no obligation to leave until the LTB issues an eviction order.
What Bill 60 Changed for N12
Before Bill 60
- • One month rent compensation required
- • Compensation due before termination date
- • Bad faith penalties existed
After Bill 60
- • No compensation required
- • All other requirements remain
- • Bad faith penalties still apply ($50,000)
Warning: Bad Faith Evictions
While Bill 60 removed the compensation requirement, it did not remove penalties for bad faith evictions. If you:
- Evict using N12 and then re-rent the unit
- Never actually move in or move out quickly
- Use N12 as a pretext to raise rent
The tenant can file a T5 application with the LTB. Penalties include:
- Up to 12 months rent compensation to the tenant
- Moving expenses and increased rent difference
- Fines up to $50,000 for individuals
- Fines up to $250,000 for corporations
N12 Checklist
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources
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