4. Go to the hearing if the LTB won’t reschedule it

If the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) doesn't reschedule your hearing, then you will have to go to the hearing on the original date. If you can't make it at all, you can also send someone to represent you.

If you send someone to represent you, you must give them a note that's signed by you to show that they have your permission. Your representative can be a licensed lawyer or paralegal. You can also send a friend or family member.

If your representative is not a licensed lawyer or paralegal, then you can't pay them to go to your hearing. If they're being paid, the LTB might not allow them to represent you, and the hearing could happen without anyone participating for you.

You can find the rules for representatives who are not lawyers or paralegals in the LTB's Practice Direction on Representation before the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Ask to reschedule the hearing

Before your hearing starts, you or your representative can ask the landlord if they will agree to reschedule the hearing. If the landlord agrees, you should tell the LTB member at the start of your hearing.

If the landlord doesn't agree, you can ask the LTB member for an adjournment at the start of your hearing. An “adjournment” is when the LTB decides to postpone the hearing that day and reschedule it to a new day. The member might adjourn if they think you have a very good reason.

If the LTB member refuses to adjourn, that means the hearing will probably go ahead on that day, even if you're not there or not ready. You or your representative should be as prepared as possible for the hearing date.

If you don’t go to the hearing

If you don't go to the hearing and you don't send someone to represent you, the LTB will still have the hearing. The LTB will probably make an order to evict you.

There are steps you can take to try to stay in your home after you get an eviction order. But you must act quickly. You can read about these steps in the question What if I don’t go to my eviction hearing?