Form N12 Explained
The importance of serving your tenants notice the right way with the right forms
In Ontario, when a landlord needs to evict a tenant at the end of their lease term, they must serve notice to their tenant using Form N12 – “Notice to End Your Tenancy Because the Landlord, Purchaser or Family Member requires the rental unit”. This form is available online at the Tribunals Ontario – Landlord & Tenant Board website.
You can give this notice to the tenant for either of the following reasons:
You must either pay the tenant an amount equal to one month’s rent as compensation or offer the tenant another rental unit that is acceptable to them. If you pay the tenant compensation it must be paid on or before the termination date in the notice.
You can serve notice by the following means: You can hand it directly to the tenant or to an adult in the rental unit. You can leave it in the tenant’s mailbox or where mail is ordinarily delivered. You can place it under the door of the rental unit or through a mail slot in the door. Lastly, you can send it by courier or by mail. Note that you cannot give the tenant this notice by posting it on the door of the tenant’s rental unit.
I strongly recommend that you get expert assistance when providing this notice (lawyer or paralegal) as if any mistakes are made the notice may be considered invalid and you would have to start the entire eviction process again.
