Landlord says his tenants stopped paying rent months ago. But he's in limbo until case is heard

Windsor, Ont., landlord Michael Portman says that while he's had his fair share of bad tenants over the last 10 years, it's never been this bad. 

About nine months ago, Portman says his tenants stopped paying their rent. Since then, Portman says he's served the tenants several notices to end their tenancy. They have also been served notices for allegedly damaging the unit. 

But until the case gets heard at the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), there's not much Portman can do. 

He says he's had two hearing dates: one in January that he claims was pushed ahead because of the tenants, and another in February that he says didn't happen because there were too many cases being heard that day. 

Even if his case is successful at the LTB, Portman worries that he might never see the more than $14,000 he says he's owed in rent. 

"I don't want anything to do with being a landlord after this experience," Portman said.

"When I do finally get a settlement with this case, I'd like to sell the house and be rid of the whole hassle." 

The tenants did not want to go on record with CBC News, but they said they disagree with the claims being made against them. 

Portman isn't the only one whose case is being held up by LTB delays. Similar stories are playing out across the province, where both landlords and tenants feel their issues aren't being resolved in a timely manner. 

As of March 31, 2023, there were 53,057 backlogged cases, according to Tribunals Ontario's most recent annual report.  

Of the 64,450 landlord applications that the board received during the 2022-2023 year, more than 37,000 of them were regarding evicting tenants for not paying their rent. 

Portman says he rented the Walkerville property before buying it and the adjoining home in 2014.

The current tenants, a family of three, moved into one side of the duplex in December 2021.