Keep a reliable record of rent, notices and communications
A record is most useful when it can be understood later without relying on memory. Keep the original, note the date and source, and organize copies in the order the events occurred. The relevant tribunal may set additional requirements for filing or exchanging documents.
A practical checklist
- Keep rent receipts, ledgers, bank records, notices, inspection records and messages together with a short label and date.
- Preserve the full context of a message or document; do not crop or rewrite the original. Keep an unaltered copy before making any privacy redactions.
- Record gaps or uncertainty honestly rather than filling them from memory. Separate what the document shows from your interpretation of it.
- Use the current official tribunal instructions to decide which copies to file, how to format them, and when to exchange them.
Related pages
- How to Format & Upload Evidence Bundles to Tribunals Ontario Portal
- Negotiating a Binding Rent Arrears Payment Plan at the LTB
- Deposit Disputes at Tribunal
Official starting points
These provincial authorities publish the forms, procedures and current directions for their jurisdictions. Choose the one that applies to the rental property and follow its current guidance.
- Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board — Official forms, filing, hearings and process information.
- BC Residential Tenancy Branch — Official guidance from the start to the end of a tenancy.
- Alberta Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service — Official application, evidence and document-service information.
General procedural information only — not legal advice. Jurisdictional rules and forms can change; verify the current official source before acting. Reviewed 9 October 2026 for source links.