To move a hearing, or a case management hearing (CMH), already scheduled at Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) to another date ahead of time, a party files the Request to Reschedule a Hearing. Landlords turn to it when they, a witness or their representative cannot be there. It is built on the assumption that all parties agree, and without that agreement the bar is much higher.
At a glance
| Filed by | Any party to the case: landlord, tenant or other |
| Timing | Ahead of the scheduled hearing or CMH |
| Deadline | In the LTB's hands no later than 5 business days before the hearing |
| Filing route | Tribunals Ontario Portal; the form also mentions email, mail or courier to the regional office, and fax |
| Fee | Not on the LTB fee schedule |
| What follows | No further form; on hearing day the request becomes an oral adjournment request |
Purpose and the rule behind it
Under Rule 21 of the Rules of Procedure, the parties may jointly ask, before the date arrives, for a CMH or hearing to be moved. Two conditions apply (Rule 21.1): every party must consent, and the LTB must receive the request as soon as reasonably possible and at least 5 business days ahead. You need that consent even if the other side has not yet been given the application and Notice of Hearing.
A Member or Hearing Officer can still grant a request that is late or lacks consent, but only after being satisfied that the requester could not reasonably have complied with Rule 21.1 (Rule 21.2). Where a CMH is involved, the LTB has another option: cancel the CMH and set the matter down for a hearing (Rule 21.5).
Good uses, and better alternatives
- A real conflict you know about in advance is the target: another court appearance, surgery, an essential witness out of town, or your representative double-booked. It works best when the tenant agrees.
- Consider whether you could attend some other way. Hearings can proceed by videoconference or other electronic means, in person or in writing (Rule 7.1; see the Practice Direction on Hearing Formats). The form will ask why a virtual hearing will not work for you and why nobody can go in your place, so weigh whether an agent or representative could cover the date.
- Already hearing day? The tool is an adjournment request, raised when the hearing opens, with the Member deciding (Rules 21.7–21.8).
- AGI applications (s. 126) get moved or adjourned only where circumstances are exceptional (Rules 21.6, 21.9).
- Need the case heard sooner rather than later? That is a Request to Shorten Time.
The clocks that matter
- The floor is 5 business days, counted to the day the LTB receives the request rather than the day you send it. Because the rule speaks of business days, weekends and LTB holidays are excluded.
- File "as soon as reasonably possible" after you learn of the conflict. An unexplained late filing is in a weaker position under Rule 21.2.
- Unavailable dates: for the three months following the current hearing date, set out every date on which each party and each representative cannot attend (Rule 21.3).
- The original date remains in place until you are told the request has been granted.
Completing the form
Version 2025/04 is the current form.
- Opening fields. File Number, language preference and any accommodation.
- Requesting Party's Information. Indicate whether you are the landlord, landlord representative, tenant, tenant representative or other, then provide your name, company, mailing address, phone numbers, email, and the way you want the LTB to send you documents.
- Unit, Building or Complex Covered by the Application. The complete address of the rental unit.
- Hearing Information. The date (dd/mm/yyyy) of the hearing you are asking to move.
- Consent Confirmation. State whether the other party or parties consented and whether that consent was verbal or written. The notes on the form accept verbal consent but prefer it in writing.
- Additional Information. Set out why the hearing should move, why you cannot join a virtual hearing or have someone attend for you, and attach evidence of the conflict.
- Scheduling Information. For the landlord, landlord representative, tenant and tenant representative, the dates in the three months after the hearing date when each is unavailable.
- Signature. Check your role, sign and date. A legal representative also adds a Law Society number and contact details.
Sending it to the LTB
On the Tribunals Ontario Portal, open your file, go to Documents, Evidence and Requests, and pick Request to Reschedule the Hearing. The form also allows email (LTB@ontario.ca), or mail or courier to whichever regional office your Notice of Hearing names, or fax to the numbers shown on the form. Under the Practice Direction for licensees, lawyers and paralegals have to use the Portal. Submit it a single time, since duplicate copies slow things down.
Why requests fail
- The other side has not agreed. Rule 21.1 calls for consent from all parties; without it, success depends on showing compliance was not reasonably possible (Rule 21.2).
- It arrives too late. Landing inside the 5-business-day window puts you under that same tougher test.
- The unavailable dates are missing. Rule 21.3 makes them mandatory, and the form cautions that a request missing any requirement may be refused.
- There is no evidence of the conflict. The form asks you to back up any scheduling conflict with documents.
- You treat it as granted without confirmation. The form puts the onus on the parties to check with the LTB. An applicant who fails to attend risks dismissal of the application, and at a CMH the application may be dismissed as abandoned (Rules 9.4, 21.4). Undoing that afterwards is far harder than attending.
- You say the tenant consented when they did not. Under the RTA, it is an offence to file information that is false or misleading.
After you file
The request is granted or denied by a Member or Hearing Officer. A grant produces a new Notice of Hearing. A denial, or no decision before the date, means the CMH or hearing goes ahead as scheduled (Rule 21.4); come prepared to proceed and, if you need to, ask for an adjournment at the outset. Where the respondent fails to appear, the LTB may go ahead in their absence.
Frequently asked questions
Is the tenant's agreement required to move the hearing?
In practice, yes. Without it, the Member has to be satisfied that getting consent or filing on time was not reasonably possible (Rule 21.2). Otherwise expect a refusal, and plan to attend or seek an adjournment on the day.
What is the latest I can file?
The request has to reach the LTB no less than 5 business days before the hearing (Rule 21.1). Do not wait for the deadline; file once the conflict is known.
Is a verbal agreement from the tenant enough?
The form accepts either verbal or written consent. Written consent is the safer choice because it is easier to prove.
How does rescheduling differ from adjourning?
You ask to reschedule ahead of time, on this form. An adjournment is sought when the hearing opens, and the Member weighs things such as the reason given, any prejudice and the file's history (Rule 21.8).
I have heard nothing from the LTB. Now what?
Call or write to the LTB before the hearing date. Unless you have been told the request was granted, assume the original date is going ahead.