N7 - Serious Impairment of Safety
The N7 notice is used when a tenant's actions have seriously impaired the safety of others in the residential complex.
When to use N7
Use an N7 when a tenant has:
- Seriously impaired the safety of the landlord
- Seriously impaired the safety of other tenants
- Seriously impaired the safety of another occupant
This is typically for serious incidents, not minor disturbances.
Notice requirements
The notice period depends on the severity:
Act impairs safety (Reason 1)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Notice Period | 10 days |
| Termination Date | At least 10 days from service |
Immediate threat (Reason 2)
For acts causing immediate serious impairment:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Notice Period | Immediate |
| Termination Date | Can be immediate (same day) |
An immediate N7 is used only for very serious situations where the tenant poses an ongoing immediate threat.
Types of safety impairment
Physical violence
- Assault on landlord, tenants, or guests
- Threats of violence
- Brandishing weapons
Fire hazards
- Intentional fires
- Dangerous use of appliances
- Blocking fire exits
- Tampering with fire safety equipment
Building security
- Compromising building security
- Allowing unauthorized access
- Damaging locks or security systems
Other serious conduct
- Conduct creating risk of harm
- Reckless behavior endangering others
- Hoarding creating safety hazards
How to generate an N7
OntarioLandlord uses a 3-step notice wizard:
Step 1: Select property and lease
- Navigate to Notices → Generate Notice
- Select the property and lease
- Choose N7 — Safety
Step 2: Choose notice period
Check Request immediate termination (serious safety emergency) if there's an ongoing immediate threat, otherwise leave it unchecked for the standard 10-day notice.
Step 3: Describe the incident
Provide detailed description:
- What happened - Specific incident
- When - Date and time
- Who was affected - Victims
- Evidence - Police reports, witnesses, photos
- Ongoing risk - Why there's continued danger
Step 4: Set termination date
- Reason 1: Minimum 10 days
- Reason 2: Can be immediate (carefully consider this)
Step 5: Generate
Click Generate PDF to create the notice.
Evidence for N7
Strong evidence for safety cases:
| Evidence | Description |
|---|---|
| Police Reports | Essential for serious incidents |
| Medical Records | If injuries occurred |
| Witness Statements | From affected parties |
| Photos | Of damage or dangerous conditions |
| Security Footage | If available |
| Prior Incidents | Pattern of behavior |
Immediate vs 10-day notice
Use 10-day notice when:
- Incident was serious but contained
- No ongoing immediate threat
- Time to document properly
Use immediate notice when:
- Ongoing immediate danger
- Tenant threatens continued violence
- Cannot wait 10 days safely
The LTB scrutinizes immediate notices carefully. Use only when truly warranted.
Filing with LTB
After serving an N7:
- File an L2 Application with the LTB
- For immediate N7, request urgent hearing
- Prepare all evidence
- Consider interim orders if needed
Important considerations
Threshold is high
"Serious impairment of safety" means:
- Real danger to physical safety
- More than annoyance or inconvenience
- Significant risk to persons
Document everything
For safety issues:
- Call police for serious incidents
- Get witness statements immediately
- Photograph any evidence
- Keep detailed timeline
Consider other options
For less serious issues, consider:
- N5 for interference
- N6 for illegal acts
- Mediation for disputes
Common questions
What if police didn't charge the tenant?
You can still serve an N7. The LTB uses a civil standard, not criminal. Police reports help but charges aren't required.
Can the N7 be voided?
No. Unlike the first N5, the N7 has no voiding period.
Should I use immediate termination?
Only for genuine emergencies. Overuse of immediate termination may hurt your credibility at the LTB.
After generation
Once the N7 is generated, you can preview the PDF, e-sign it, email it to the tenant, and generate a Certificate of Service.