The Fee Waiver Request is the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) form a low-income individual uses to have LTB fees waived. It works for application fees, the Request to Review fee, hearing recordings and copies. Most landlords will not qualify, and companies never do. An individual landlord whose household relies on income support, or whose household income falls below the published thresholds, can use it.
At a glance
| Who uses it | Individuals only, who are a party to an application or directly affected by one. Not businesses or organizations |
| When | Before paying the fee, at any point in a proceeding |
| Deadline | None. Fees are waived from the date the request is granted, not retroactively |
| How it is filed | Attached to the front of the application or request. Filed by mail or courier, or at ServiceOntario. A licensed representative can complete it in the Tribunals Ontario Portal (Rule 2.1) |
| Fee | No charge to request a fee waiver |
| Follow-on form | None. The LTB returns a copy marked approved or denied |
What the form is for
Section 181.1 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) allows the Board, in accordance with its Rules, to waive or defer all or part of a fee "for low-income individuals in appropriate circumstances". Rule 2 of the LTB Rules of Procedure requires the LTB's Fee Waiver Request form. It also says waivers will be granted where the requester meets the requirements set out on the form.
Once granted, all fees charged by the LTB relating to the application in which you are a party are waived from that point on (Practice Direction on Fee Waiver).
Who qualifies: the current thresholds
You qualify under one of two reasons.
Reason 1: Income support. Your household's primary source of income is one or more of:
- Ontario Works
- Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Old Age Security Pension together with the Guaranteed Income Supplement (OAS alone does not qualify)
- War Veterans' Allowance
- Canada Pension Plan
Reason 2: Low household income. Your gross monthly household income, from all sources before taxes and deductions, is below:
| People in household | Gross monthly household income |
|---|---|
| 1 | Less than $1,650 |
| 2 | Less than $2,475 |
| 3 | Less than $2,840 |
| 4 | Less than $3,390 |
| 5 or more | Less than $3,940 |
These figures are on the current form and in the Practice Direction on Fee Waiver (dated August 14, 2026). "Household" means you, your spouse and your dependent children.
When to use it (and when not to)
Use it when you are an individual landlord filing an L-application, a Request to Review, or a request with a fee (for example a hearing recording at $16.15), and your household meets Reason 1 or Reason 2.
Do not use it when the landlord is a corporation, partnership or other organization (only individuals qualify), or when the fee has already been paid (waivers apply from the time granted, and fees are non-refundable).
How to fill out the form, section by section
Part 1: General Information. Your name, mailing address, daytime phone and email.
Part 2: Reason for Request. Choose Reason 1 or Reason 2, not both. - Reason 1: tick each income support program that is your household's primary source of income. - Reason 2: select the number of people in your household and enter the combined gross monthly income from all sources for the household.
Part 3: Declaration. Read it before signing. You confirm that the information is complete and accurate. You acknowledge that it is an offence under RTA s. 234 to file false or misleading information. You also accept that the LTB may require financial documents to prove what you said. Sign and date.
The "For Office Use Only" box is for LTB staff.
Filing it
- Attach it to the front of the application or request form you are filing, or to your written description of what you want from the LTB (for example, copies). The form says this in bold.
- The LTB forms page lists mail or courier and ServiceOntario as the filing methods.
- Under Rule 2.1, a representative licensed by the Law Society of Ontario may complete the Fee Waiver Request in the Tribunals Ontario Portal, based on information from the client.
- The Practice Direction on Fee Waiver sets out two filing routes: in person at ServiceOntario, or by mail to any LTB office. Its sentence on timing also mentions fax: for a request made at ServiceOntario, by mail or by fax, you will be told by mail within a week whether the waiver was granted. It does not describe fax as a filing route of its own.
Mistakes that get it denied or delay your filing
- A company applying. Fee waivers are only for individuals. A numbered company that owns the rental will be denied.
- Leaving out household income. The test is gross household income from all sources, including a spouse's income and any rental income. Under-reporting is an offence under s. 234 and can be checked: the LTB may demand financial documents.
- Ticking both reasons, or neither. The form requires one.
- OAS without GIS. Old Age Security alone does not meet Reason 1.
- Filing the form separately or behind the application. The form must be attached to the front of the filing it relates to.
- Not paying after a denial. If you did not include payment information and the waiver is denied, the Practice Direction says you must pay within three business days of the LTB contacting you. Otherwise your application is returned. For a time-sensitive filing, that can cost you your place.
What happens next
LTB staff review the request and return a copy marked Approved or Denied (criteria not met). If approved, your filing is processed without the fee, and later LTB fees on the same application are also waived. If your finances change during the proceeding, you can make a new request (Practice Direction).
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord get the LTB filing fee waived?
Yes, if the landlord is an individual whose household meets Reason 1 or Reason 2. Corporations and other organizations cannot.
What is the income limit for an LTB fee waiver in 2026?
Gross monthly household income below $1,650 for one person, $2,475 for two, $2,840 for three, $3,390 for four, and $3,940 for five or more.
Can I file a fee waiver through the Tribunals Ontario Portal?
Rule 2.1 lets a licensed lawyer or paralegal complete it in the Portal for a client. For everyone else, the LTB forms page lists mail, courier and ServiceOntario, and the Practice Direction on Fee Waiver (August 14, 2026) describes only ServiceOntario and mail. Neither describes a Portal route for self-represented filers, so check with the LTB before relying on one.
Will the LTB ask for proof of income?
It may. The declaration says you may be required to provide financial documents if asked.