3. Defend yourself if the landlord comes after you for money
Question & Answer
Can I try to get evicted if I want to get out of my rental agreement?If your landlord wants money from you after evicting you, you might get a letter or a phone call from the landlord, a lawyer, a paralegal, or a collection agency. Or you might get a of hearing if the landlord decides to sue you at the (LTB).
Depending on what the landlord is claiming, there may be good reasons why you shouldn't have to pay. For example, the landlord might be asking for rent for the time after your legally ended or after a new tenant moved in. Or you might be able to show that your landlord didn't try very hard to find a new tenant.
You can talk about these things with your landlord. Or if you agree that you owe money, you can try to make a payment agreement with your landlord.
Your landlord can't force you to sign an agreement. You have the right to wait for the LTB to make a decision about whether you owe your landlord money.
If a collection agency has contacted you, learn about your rights and the rules the collection agency must follow.
If your landlord sues you at the Landlord and Tenant Board
Your landlord can sue you at the LTB if it has been less than one year since you moved out.
Your landlord must send you a Notice of Hearing and a copy of the completed Form L10: Application to Collect Money a Former Tenant Owes at least 30 days before your hearing date.
Read these documents carefully. You can use the LTB's Form L10 Checklist to check for mistakes in the Form L10. If you find a mistake, you should mention it at your LTB hearing.
You must give your landlord and the LTB copies of any you want to use at your hearing at least 7 days before the hearing date. For example, you might want to send them copies of your rent receipts and your written notice.
