Ontario LTB Form A1: Does Ontario Tenancy Law Apply?
Use Form A1 to ask whether Ontario’s rental law covers a particular home or rental situation.
A1 lets a landlord or tenant ask the Landlord and Tenant Board whether the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA)—or a particular part of it—applies. It resolves coverage and exemption questions; it is not itself an eviction or a claim for unpaid rent.
This guide explains the application; it does not file it for you or guarantee an outcome.
When an A1 determination helps
You might disagree about whether accommodation is covered because it is a hotel, emergency shelter, employment-related housing, shared accommodation with the owner or a member of the owner’s immediate family, social housing, care home or land-lease property. Some arrangements are partly covered, not simply in or out. The LTB makes the determination on the actual facts.
How to fill out A1
- Part 1 — applicant: select landlord or tenant and supply contact information.
- Other parties: provide the other side's information (the landlord if you are the tenant; the tenant if you are the landlord). Identify each affected unit and other unresolved LTB cases.
- Part 2 — explain coverage: describe the accommodation, why you believe the RTA or a particular provision does or does not apply, how many units are in the complex and how many are part of the application.
- Part 3: sign and date. Use a Schedule of Parties or extra sheet for multiple persons or units.
- File: include the completed A1 and the $53 fee (or approved waiver); use an accepted LTB filing method.
Worked example: sharing with the owner
A renter pays $950 for a room. The owner says the RTA does not apply because they share a kitchen. The renter says the owner does not actually live in the property. In A1, the renter describes the living arrangement, who occupies the property, shared facilities and relevant dates, attaching the agreement and photographs. The LTB determines coverage; the landlord’s label alone does not decide it.
What documents help?
Attach the rental agreement, advertisements, records showing who occupies the unit, photographs of shared areas, accommodation policies, communications about the arrangement and any documents showing why a statutory exception might apply.
Important distinction
A1 decides legal coverage. If you also want an eviction, maintenance remedy or repayment, a different application may be necessary depending on what the LTB decides. The A1 instructions do not prescribe one blanket 30-day or one-year limitation for every coverage question.
Common mistake
Do not assume that “student,” “roommate,” “staff” or “subsidized” housing is always exempt. Explain the exact accommodation and legal issue.