Introduction: A recent report sheds light on the growing backlog at Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB Help), raising concerns about its impact on both landlords and tenants. Despite efforts by the provincial government, the situation seems to be worsening, prompting calls for urgent action.
Tribunal Watch Tribunal Ontario Report:
- As of March 2023, there were 53,000 unresolved cases at the Landlord and Tenant Board, affecting over a million Ontarians.
- Kathy Laird, President of Tribunal Watch Ontario, emphasizes the severity of the situation, highlighting a decline in the LTB’s efficiency over the years.
Government Response:
- The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General acknowledges ongoing efforts to streamline processes at the LTB and Tribunal Ontario.
- Initiatives include appointing more adjudicators, enhancing training, implementing a new case management system, and improving call center technology.
Challenges and Frustrations:
- Tenants face obstacles accessing online hearings, exacerbating existing disparities in access.
- Boubah Bah, a small landlord, expresses frustration over lengthy eviction processes, calling for expedited procedures for non-payment cases.
- Douglas Kwan from Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario points out the removal of in-person services in 2020 as a significant aggravating factor.
Impact of Virtual Hearings:
- The shift to virtual proceedings has eliminated opportunities for informal resolutions typically facilitated during in-person hearings.
- Previously, hallway conversations and mediation helped resolve a significant portion of disputes, which is now limited in the virtual format.
Conclusion: The backlog at the LTB underscores the need for immediate action to address inefficiencies and ensure timely resolution of disputes. Balancing the interests of both landlords and tenants requires innovative solutions and continued collaboration between stakeholders and the government. We need LTB Help as soon as possible.
