The Request for Hearing Recording is the Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) form for ordering a copy of the recording of an LTB hearing. Landlords typically want it to prepare a Request to Review an Order, to check exactly what was said or agreed, or to have a transcript prepared. The fee is $16.15, and the LTB does not guarantee that a recording exists.
At a glance
| Who uses it | Any party (Rule 7.10). The form also allows "Other" requesters |
| When | After the hearing |
| Deadline | See below: the instructions say ten years from the hearing date, but Rule 7.10 says seven years from the date the file closed |
| How it is filed | Email with an online payment receipt to ltbpayments@ontario.ca, mail or courier, or ServiceOntario |
| Fee | $16.15 (refunded if the hearing was not recorded) |
| Follow-on form | None |
What the form is for
The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 does not require hearings to be recorded, but the instructions say LTB proceedings "are usually recorded". Under Rule 7.10, a recording forms part of the record, and any party may request a copy on payment of the fee. The LTB searches, confirms whether the hearing was recorded, and if so provides a copy. It does not guarantee the existence or quality of a recording. The LTB currently records in MP4 format. Older recordings may be MP3, M4A or WMA files.
When to use it (and when not to)
Use it when:
- you are preparing a Request to Review an Order and need to show what happened at the hearing. Since July 1, 2026, the deadline to request a review is 15 days, not 30, so order the recording immediately;
- you need to confirm the exact terms of a settlement or consent read into the record;
- you want a court reporter's transcript prepared from the recording.
Do not use it to:
- get copies of documents on the file. Those are $0.54 a page under "Other fees", and records requests have their own process;
- record the hearing yourself. Under Rule 7.12, recording a hearing yourself needs the LTB's authorization under s. 29 of the Statutory Powers Procedure Act, requested before the hearing begins. Rule 7.11 separately allows a party, on notice, to retain a court reporter at their own expense.
Deadlines and timing
- How long recordings are kept: the sources differ. The form and instructions say a request "should be made within ten years of the hearing date" and that the recording is erased after that. Rule 7.10 of the current Rules says requests "must be made within seven years from the date the file was closed". Because the two run from different starting points, do not rely on either; request promptly.
- Turnaround: if the hearing was recorded, the LTB will "endeavor" to provide a copy within two weeks. In some cases it takes longer. With a 15-day review deadline, do not wait for the recording before filing a review if time is short.
- Download window: an emailed link is available for 30 days from when you receive it.
How to fill out the form, section by section
- Requester's Information. Tick Landlord, Tenant, Representative or Other. Give your name, address, phone, and the email address to send the recording to. If you leave the email blank, the recording is mailed on a USB stick.
- Hearing Information. - File Number(s): list every related file number if the LTB combined files and heard them together. - Hearing Date(s) and Time(s) for each sitting you want. - Hearing Location / Video Conference No.
- Recording Fee. Tick how you are paying: - Online Payment with the receipt number, if filing by email; - Money Order or Certified Cheque payable to the Minister of Finance; - Credit Card, by enclosing the LTB Credit Card Payment Form if you are filing by mail or courier.
- Signature and date (dd/mm/yyyy).
Filing and paying
- By email: pay $16.15 on the LTB's online payment portal. Email the completed form and the payment receipt to ltbpayments@ontario.ca. Never email card details: the LTB deletes emails containing credit card information.
- By mail or courier: send the form with a certified cheque or money order, or with the Credit Card Payment Form. The forms page and the instructions both list mail or courier. The instructions point to the LTB's contact page for office addresses.
- At ServiceOntario: at a location that accepts LTB documents. You can pay by cash, debit, credit card, certified cheque or money order.
A low-income individual can ask to have the fee waived with the Fee Waiver Request.
Mistakes that delay or defeat the request
- Ordering it too late for a review. The 15-day review clock does not stop while you wait for a recording.
- Missing related file numbers. If the L1 and a tenant's T2 were heard together, list both, or the search may miss the right sitting.
- Wrong hearing date. The LTB searches by file and date. An adjourned matter may have several sittings, so list each one you need.
- Emailing credit card details. The application is deleted and not processed.
- Letting the download link expire. It lasts 30 days. Open the link in the folder view and use the download arrow. The instructions warn that you cannot save the file from the preview player.
- Assuming a recording exists. If there is none, your payment is refunded, but you will need other evidence, such as your notes or the order.
What happens next
If the recording exists, you receive two emails: one with a link, and one with the password. Download the file within 30 days. If no email address was given, the recording is mailed on a USB flash drive. If the hearing was not recorded, the LTB returns or refunds your payment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an LTB hearing recording cost?
$16.15, according to the form, the instructions and the LTB fee schedule.
How long does it take to get an LTB hearing recording?
The LTB aims to provide it within two weeks if the hearing was recorded. It can take longer.
How long does the LTB keep hearing recordings?
The instructions say ten years from the hearing date. Rule 7.10 says requests must be made within seven years of the file closing. Request as early as you can.
Can I get a written transcript from the LTB?
The LTB provides the recording. Under Rule 7.11, a party may retain a court reporter at their own cost. If a transcript is used at a hearing, a complete copy must go to the LTB and the other parties.