The N15 is the Ontario form a tenant uses to end their tenancy on 28 days' notice because they, or a child living with them, have experienced sexual or domestic violence or abuse and fear harm if they stay. It comes with a Tenant's Statement or a recent court order, and the landlord who receives it has strict confidentiality duties.
At a glance
| Who uses it | A tenant, or a joint tenant, who meets the test in s. 47.3 of the RTA |
| When | Any time during a monthly or yearly tenancy or a fixed-term lease |
| Notice period / deadline | At least 28 days. The date does not have to be the end of a rental period or term |
| How it is served | Given to the landlord with the required document attached; not filed with the LTB |
| Filing fee | None |
| Follow-on form | None in most cases. If every tenant signed and no one leaves, the landlord may apply with an L3 |
What the N15 is for
Sections 47.1 and 47.2 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA) let a tenant end a monthly, yearly or fixed-term tenancy early if the tenant, or a child living with them, is "deemed to have experienced violence or another form of abuse" under s. 47.3(1). The notice must comply with s. 43(1) and be accompanied by one of two things (s. 47.1(4)):
- a copy of a peace bond under s. 810 of the Criminal Code, a restraining order under s. 46 of the Family Law Act, or a restraining order under s. 35 of the Children's Law Reform Act, issued not more than 90 days before the notice is given; or
- the LTB's Tenant's Statement About Sexual or Domestic Violence and Abuse, signed by the tenant.
The alleged abuser must be a current or former spouse, conjugal or dating partner, or a relative living in the unit (s. 47.3(4)); sexual violence by anyone also qualifies (s. 47.3(1)(e)). The Statement need not describe what happened or name anyone (s. 47.3(5), para. 4). The LTB may check only that the document is genuine and of the right kind, not whether the allegation is true (s. 47.3(6)).
When to use it (and when not to)
- All tenants leaving. If every tenant signs, the whole tenancy ends on the termination date (s. 47.1).
- Some tenants leaving. A joint tenant who qualifies may end only their own interest, alone or with some but not all co-tenants (s. 47.2). The tenancy continues for those who stay. The rent deposit stays with the tenancy for the remaining tenants (s. 47.2(8)).
- Any other reason: use the N9 or an N11.
Deadlines and limitation periods
- Notice period. The termination date must be at least 28 days after the notice is given (ss. 47.1(3), 47.2(3)). Exclude the day it is given and include the termination date (Legislation Act, 2006, s. 89(3)).
- Court order age. If an order is attached instead of a Statement, it must have been issued no more than 90 days before the notice.
- Partial notice not followed. An s. 47.2 notice becomes void for a tenant who does not move out on or before the termination date (s. 47.2(5)).
- Remaining joint tenants. After a co-tenant leaves under s. 47.2, the remaining tenants may end a yearly or fixed-term tenancy on 60 days' notice, given jointly (s. 47.2(9)).
How to fill out the N15, section by section
N15 (version 01/07/2022): landlord's name; each tenant giving notice; the unit address; the termination date (dd/mm/yyyy, at least 28 days away); a tick box for the attached document (Statement, or restraining order or peace bond issued within 90 days); and, on page 2, signatures for up to three tenants and any representative's details.
Tenant's Statement. Landlord's and tenant's names, the unit address, a tick-box statement of the qualifying circumstances (the relationship list and the kinds of harm, and/or sexual violence as defined in s. 47.3(2)), and the tenant's signature and date.
Serving it
The tenant gives the N15 and the attached document to the landlord by a method allowed under s. 191 of the RTA. Nothing is filed with the LTB.
If you are the landlord responding
Confidentiality is a legal duty. Under s. 47.4(1) you must not disclose to anyone, including the other tenants, that the notice was given, or the notice, the attachment or anything in them. You may disclose only:
- to your lawyer or licensed paralegal;
- to a superintendent, property manager or other agent who needs to know to do their job (and they become bound by the same duty);
- to a law enforcement agency, but only when it asks in connection with an investigation;
- to Ministry investigators in connection with an offence under the Act;
- to the LTB in a proceeding about whether the notice was properly given;
- with the tenant's consent, where the information is already public, or as otherwise required by law.
After a partial (s. 47.2) notice takes effect, you may tell the remaining tenants only that such a notice was given and its termination date (s. 47.4(3)).
Advertising and showings.
- During the notice period you may advertise the unit only if the advertisement does not mention the unit and the unit cannot be identified from it (s. 47.4(4)).
- You may enter to show the unit to prospective tenants only after the tenant (or all joint tenants) have moved out in accordance with the notice (s. 47.1(5)).
Practical steps. Store the documents securely and apart from the general file. Acknowledge receipt to the tenant only. Do not question the tenant about the allegations. After the tenant leaves, property left behind may be dealt with as after any notice (s. 41(1)), but the N15 notes this applies only if no other tenants remain.
Penalties. Breaching s. 47.4(1) is an offence (s. 234(b.1)). Knowingly giving false or misleading information in connection with an N15 is also an offence (s. 233(d.1)). The maximum fine is now $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a corporation (s. 238).
Mistakes that get it refused, voided or dismissed
These are defects a landlord can fairly point to. Raise them with care, and only with the people listed above.
- No document attached. Without a Statement or a qualifying order, the notice does not meet s. 47.1(4)(b).
- Order more than 90 days old, or an order that is not one of the three listed kinds.
- Statement not signed, or not on the LTB's approved form (s. 47.3(5), paras. 1 and 6).
- Termination date less than 28 days away.
- Assuming a partial notice ends the whole tenancy. It does not. If the leaving tenant stays past the date, the notice is void for them (s. 47.2(5)). A partial notice is not a notice of termination for an L3 (s. 47.2(7)).
What happens next
If the tenant moves out by the termination date, the tenancy (or that tenant's interest in it) ends. A tenant who leaves under s. 47.2 is still liable for breaches from before they left (s. 47.2(6)). If all tenants gave the notice and do not move out, the N15 says the landlord may apply to the LTB to evict.
Recent changes
The N15 and Statement forms (version 01/07/2022) still say the maximum fine is $50,000 for an individual and $250,000 for a company. Section 238 of the RTA now sets $100,000 and $500,000, and the LTB's July 1, 2026 operational update confirms the increase. Rely on the statute, not the form.
Frequently asked questions
Can I ask the tenant for proof of the abuse?
No. The Statement is the proof the Act requires, and it does not have to describe the events or name anyone. Even the LTB cannot decide whether the allegation is true; it can only check that the document is genuine and the right kind.
Can I tell the other tenants why their roommate is leaving?
No. Section 47.4 expressly covers co-tenants. After a partial notice takes effect, you may tell them only that a notice was given and its termination date.
Official sources
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 26, 41, 43, 47.1–47.4, 191, 233, 234, 238
- N15 – Tenant's Notice to End my Tenancy Because of Fear of Sexual or Domestic Violence and Abuse (PDF)
- Tenant's Statement About Sexual or Domestic Violence and Abuse (PDF)
- Legislation Act, 2006, s. 89
- LTB Operational Update, July 1, 2026
- LTB Forms, filing and fees