The Landlord and Tenant Board doesn't lose cases on the law — it loses them on the paperwork. Here's how to build an evidence package an adjudicator can actually follow.

Why evidence packages matter

At the LTB, you have one chance to tell your story. The adjudicator reads dozens of files a week. If your evidence is a 200-page PDF dump with no index, no page numbers, and no clear story, you lose — even when the law is on your side.

A proper evidence package does three things: proves the facts, respects the adjudicator's time, and shows you're organized enough to be taken seriously.

What to include in an L1 (non-payment) package

Lease agreement — signed, with all addenda
Tenant ledger — month-by-month rent owed vs. received, running balance
N4 notice — with proof of service (date, method, who served)
L1 application — the version filed with the LTB
Communications — texts, emails, letters about rent (chronological)
Bank statements / e-transfer records — showing what was actually received
Any partial-payment receipts

How to number exhibits

Use a single sequence: Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2, Exhibit 3. Don't use "Tab A," "Schedule 1," or "Appendix iv" — adjudicators are used to a flat exhibit list. Each exhibit gets a cover page with the exhibit number, a one-line description, and the date.

Build a table of contents on page 1 so the adjudicator can jump to "Exhibit 5 — N4 notice served June 3" without scrolling.

Deadlines you cannot miss

5 days before the hearing — disclose all evidence you intend to rely on to the other side and the LTB
7 days before — recommended for complex cases, gives time for the adjudicator to actually read it
Day of hearing — bring three copies (you, tenant, adjudicator) even for virtual hearings, in case of tech failures

The five mistakes that lose hearings

Submitting evidence late and being refused permission to use it
No ledger, or a ledger that doesn't match the L1 amount
Texts pasted as screenshots in random order with no dates visible
Missing N4 service proof — the case is dismissed on a technicality
Showing up with a binder of paper for a virtual hearing

The fast way

Exhibit One automates the package: you upload your texts, ledger, and N4, and it produces an exhibit-numbered PDF with a table of contents, ready to file. Skip the $1,500 paralegal for a $99 case.