Ontario landlords have just been given access to one of the biggest changes to the rental housing industry in years.
As of July 24, 2026, the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) has officially begun publishing thousands of final LTB orders through the Ontario Open Data Catalogue. The first release includes final orders issued between January and May 2026, with historical orders dating back to December 2021 being added in phases. Going forward, new orders are expected to be published monthly.
For landlords, property managers, paralegals, real estate investors and tenants alike, this is a major shift toward transparency.
But what exactly does this mean?
More importantly… how should landlords actually use this information?
What Is the Ontario LTB Order Catalogue?
The LTB Order Catalogue is a new public database provided by the Government of Ontario that allows users to search final decisions issued by the Landlord and Tenant Board.
These decisions cover many of the most common disputes between landlords and tenants, including:
- Non-payment of rent
- Persistent late payment
- Property damage
- Substantial interference
- N12 applications
- N13 applications
- Maintenance disputes
- Illegal rent increases
- Tenant rights applications
- Compensation claims
- Consent orders
- And many other LTB proceedings
Previously, locating LTB decisions could be difficult. Some orders appeared on CanLII, while many older decisions required formal requests through Tribunals Ontario.
Now, Ontario is creating a centralized government database that will continue expanding over time.
Why This Is a Huge Deal for Ontario Landlords
Every experienced landlord knows that a rental application only tells part of the story.
Credit reports are useful. Employment verification is useful. References are useful.
But none of those documents tell you whether someone has previously been involved in an LTB proceeding.
Now they can. A final LTB order may reveal whether:
- Rent arrears were proven
- A payment plan was ordered
- Serious damage occurred
- Maintenance allegations were dismissed
- A landlord successfully obtained possession
- A tenant successfully proved bad faith
- An eviction application failed
- Compensation was awarded
Instead of relying solely on information provided during the application process, landlords can better understand how previous disputes were resolved.
Bigger Transparency Means Better Decisions
Ontario's decision to publish final LTB orders is an important step toward a more transparent rental market.
Public decisions allow landlords, tenants, lawyers and paralegals to better understand:
- how the Residential Tenancies Act is being interpreted,
- how adjudicators analyze evidence,
- how different applications are decided,
- and what outcomes similar cases have produced.
Transparency benefits everyone. It creates greater consistency and allows both landlords and tenants to make better-informed decisions.
One Important Warning: An LTB Order Does Not Tell the Entire Story
This is probably the most important point in this article.
Simply finding someone's name in an LTB order does not mean they were a bad tenant. Likewise, simply finding a landlord's name does not mean they were a bad landlord.
Every LTB application begins as an allegation.
Only after reading the complete order can you understand:
- what evidence was presented,
- what was actually proven,
- what claims were dismissed,
- whether the parties settled,
- and what the adjudicator ultimately decided.
This is why landlords should always read the complete decision instead of relying on a search result or application type alone.
Will Every LTB Order Be Published?
No.
Tribunals Ontario has confirmed that orders where confidentiality has been granted will not appear in the public dataset.
This has naturally led to questions from landlords and legal professionals. For example:
- Who decides whether an order remains confidential?
- What qualifies?
- How often will confidentiality be granted?
- Can confidential orders later become public?
- Can published orders later be corrected or redacted?
Tribunals Ontario has published guidance explaining that confidentiality is intended to be exceptional and generally requires a serious risk to an important public interest, that confidentiality is necessary, and that the benefits outweigh the impact on open justice. In some cases, an adjudicator may choose a narrower solution—such as anonymizing names or redacting sensitive information—instead of withholding an order entirely.
As the catalogue grows, these practical questions will continue to be important.
What About Older LTB Decisions?
The initial release only includes orders issued between January and May 2026.
However, Tribunals Ontario has stated that historical final orders dating back to December 2021 will be added in phases over time.
Current orders will continue to be uploaded on a monthly basis.
That means this database is expected to become substantially larger over the coming months.
LTB Orders Are Only One Piece of the Tenant Screening Process
The new Ontario LTB Order Catalogue is an excellent resource for landlords, but it should never be used as the only factor when evaluating a prospective tenant.
An LTB order tells you about a legal proceeding that reached the Landlord and Tenant Board. It does not necessarily reflect a tenant's complete rental history, financial circumstances, employment stability, or overall suitability as a renter.
Likewise, many responsible tenants have appeared before the LTB to enforce their legal rights, and many landlords have appeared before the Board while managing legitimate disputes. A single tribunal decision should always be read in full and considered alongside other relevant information.
A thorough tenant screening process should include identity verification, employment and income verification, credit history (with the applicant's consent), rental references, previous landlord references, and a review of any relevant public tribunal decisions. Ontario landlords should also ensure that their screening practices comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code and applicable privacy laws.
To help landlords build a stronger and more consistent screening process, we've created a comprehensive Ontario Tenant Screening Guide. This resource walks landlords through best practices, explains what information can legally be requested during the application process, outlines common red flags to watch for, and provides practical tips for reducing rental risk while remaining compliant with Ontario law.
If you're looking to strengthen your screening process, we encourage you to read our complete guide:
👉 https://ezyrent.ca/tenant-screening-ontario
Whether you're a first-time landlord or an experienced property manager, combining a thorough tenant screening process with the new Ontario LTB Order Catalogue can help you make more informed rental decisions and reduce the likelihood of costly disputes in the future.
Why Thousands of Ontario Landlords Already Use LandlordEzy
Long before the Ontario government launched the LTB Order Catalogue, LandlordEzy was built to help Ontario landlords make more informed decisions.
Today, over 43,000 records are already available within the LandlordEzy ecosystem, giving landlords access to valuable tools designed specifically for Ontario's rental market.
LandlordEzy helps housing providers:
- Search LTB-related information
- Screen prospective tenants
- Manage rental properties
- Access legal resources
- Stay informed about legislative changes
- Streamline day-to-day property management
The new Ontario LTB Order Catalogue is an excellent public resource, and we believe it complements—not replaces—a comprehensive screening and property management process.
By combining government transparency with practical landlord tools, Ontario housing providers can make more informed, consistent and responsible decisions.
Our Take
We welcome this change.
Making final LTB orders easier to access promotes transparency, improves legal research and gives both landlords and tenants greater insight into how Ontario's rental laws are applied.
Like any public database, however, the information should be used responsibly.
A name in an LTB order is not a verdict on someone's character.
The complete decision matters. The facts matter. The outcome matters.
As more historical orders are added, the LTB Order Catalogue is likely to become one of the most valuable legal resources available to Ontario's rental housing community.
And as landlords continue looking for efficient ways to screen applicants, manage properties and stay informed, LandlordEzy will continue providing the tools and resources needed to navigate Ontario's ever-changing rental landscape.
Explore the New LTB Order Catalogue
The Ontario government's LTB Order Catalogue is now available to the public and can be accessed here:
https://data.ontario.ca/dataset/ltb-order-catalogue
Want more landlord resources, tenant screening tools and Ontario LTB updates?
Visit LandlordEzy and discover why thousands of Ontario landlords rely on our platform to help manage their rental properties with confidence.
