A Canadian Late Rent Notice is a formal written communication from a landlord to a tenant informing them that their rent payment is overdue and requesting prompt payment. Unlike a formal eviction notice (which is a statutory document that initiates the legal eviction process), a late rent notice serves as a courtesy reminder and a good-faith attempt to resolve the matter before escalating to formal proceedings.

Canadian residential tenancy law is governed at the provincial level, and the rules regarding late payments, late fees, and the consequences of non-payment vary significantly across provinces. In Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (S.O. 2006, c. 17) specifically prohibits landlords from charging late fees or penalties for late rent payment under s. 134 — any clause in a lease requiring a late fee is void and unenforceable. The Ontario Standard Lease (Form 15) explicitly states that landlords cannot charge interest or fees on late rent. However, persistent late payment can be grounds for a separate eviction application under the RTA.

In British Columbia, the Residential Tenancy Act (S.B.C. 2002, c. 78) does not explicitly prohibit late fees, meaning landlords may include reasonable late fee provisions in the tenancy agreement. Similarly, Alberta's Residential Tenancies Act (S.A. 2004, c. R-17.1) permits late fees if they are specified in the lease agreement and are considered reasonable. In Quebec, penalty clauses in residential leases are generally prohibited under the Civil Code of Quebec.

A late rent notice is not a legal prerequisite for serving a formal eviction notice in any Canadian province — the landlord can serve the statutory eviction notice for non-payment the day after rent is due. However, sending a late rent notice first is considered good practice because it demonstrates good faith, creates a paper trail, and may resolve the matter without the cost and delay of tribunal proceedings.

A Canadian Late Rent Notice is needed when a tenant has not paid rent on the due date specified in the tenancy agreement and the landlord wants to formally notify them of the overdue payment before considering further action. This is typically the first step a landlord takes when rent is late, before resorting to the formal eviction process.

The notice is appropriate when rent is several days overdue and informal communication (phone call, text, verbal reminder) has not resolved the situation. A written notice creates a formal record that the landlord informed the tenant of the arrears, which can be useful if the matter eventually proceeds to the provincial tribunal.

It is needed when the landlord wants to clearly state the total amount owing, including the breakdown of unpaid rent and any applicable charges, the payment deadline, and the consequences of non-payment. The notice serves as a final opportunity for the tenant to pay before the landlord serves a formal eviction notice.

A late rent notice is particularly important in provinces like Ontario where late fees are prohibited — since the landlord cannot financially penalize late payment, the written notice is the primary tool for communicating urgency and documenting the landlord's diligence. In Ontario, the landlord can serve a formal N4 notice the day after rent is due, but many landlords prefer to send a late rent notice first as a courtesy.

The notice is also useful when a tenant has a pattern of paying rent late. While a single late payment may not warrant formal action, documenting repeated instances through late rent notices strengthens the landlord's position if they later apply to the tribunal for an order based on persistent late payment. In Ontario, persistent late payment can support an N8 notice (Notice to End Tenancy at the End of the Term).

A properly drafted Canadian Late Rent Notice should clearly identify the landlord and tenant by full legal name and provide complete addresses. The landlord's contact information, including phone number and email address, should be prominently displayed so the tenant can reach the landlord to discuss payment or arrange a payment plan.

The notice must specify the exact amount of rent owing in Canadian dollars, broken down by rental period if multiple periods are overdue. The original due date must be stated clearly, along with the period for which rent has not been received. If applicable (and permitted by provincial law), the notice should separately identify any late fee amount and the total amount due including all charges.

A clear payment deadline must be included, giving the tenant a specific date by which payment must be received. The accepted payment methods should be listed — in Canada, common payment methods include Interac e-Transfer (the most widely used method for rent payments), personal cheque, bank draft, pre-authorized debit, and cash. In Ontario, the landlord cannot require post-dated cheques or automatic payment methods as a condition of tenancy under RTA s. 108.

The notice should reference the tenancy agreement by name and date and describe the rental property by type and address. It should clearly state that this is a courtesy notice and not a formal Notice to Terminate Tenancy, but should also advise the tenant that failure to pay may result in the landlord commencing formal eviction proceedings under the applicable provincial legislation. The notice should reference the governing province and the applicable residential tenancy legislation. Including information about the tenant's rights and the contact information for the provincial tribunal or tenancy board demonstrates good faith and is considered best practice.