Small Claims Court Limit Now $50,000—Matches LTB Maximum

As of October 1, 2025, Ontario’s Small Claims Court can now handle claims up to $50,000—up from the previous $35,000 limit.

Why This Matters for Landlords

The Landlord and Tenant Board’s maximum monetary jurisdiction is also $50,000. Before this change, if a tenant owed you more than $35,000 but less than $50,000, you had an awkward choice:

Old situation:

Claim up to $35,000 in Small Claims Court (and lose the rest)
Or go to Superior Court (expensive, complex, slower)

Now:

Small Claims Court handles claims up to $50,000
Aligns perfectly with LTB maximum
No more gap to worry about

When You’d Use Small Claims vs. LTB

Use the LTB When:

Tenant is still in possession
You want to combine eviction with money owed
Dispute is about current tenancy issues

Use Small Claims Court When:

Tenant has already left
LTB won’t give you a hearing (jurisdiction issues)
You need to collect from someone who’s not your tenant
Damages exceed what LTB can award

The Practical Impact

Let’s say a tenant trashes your place and leaves owing $45,000 in damages and arrears.

Before October 2025:

LTB can order up to $50,000, but…
If you need Small Claims for any reason, max was $35,000
You’d forfeit $10,000 or hire a lawyer for Superior Court

Now:

Small Claims handles the full $45,000
Same streamlined process
No need for Superior Court

Small Claims Court Basics

Filing fees: ~$102 (claims over $35,000) Process: Simpler than Superior Court Representation: You can self-represent or use a paralegal Timeline: Generally faster than Superior Court

One Important Note

Just because you can claim up to $50,000 doesn’t mean you’ll collect it. Consider:

Can the debtor actually pay?
Is it worth the time and filing fees?
Do you have evidence to support your claim?

But at least now you don’t have to forfeit money just because it exceeds an arbitrary threshold.

For more information, visit Ontario.ca or consult a licensed paralegal or lawyer.