My tenant has verbally agreed to vacate the unit at the end of the lease agreement, is this a valid agreement or does it need to be done in writing?

While we strongly recommend using an N11 for mutual agreements to terminate a tenancy, an agreement to end a tenancy under the RTA does not have to be on a Board-approved form to be valid or binding. If there is a written agreement that clearly shows both the landlord and all tenants agreed to end tenancy, includes the names of the parties, the address of the rental unit, a clear termination date, and is signed and dated by all parties, the LTB may treat it as a valid agreement to terminate the tenancy, even if it is not on the official LTB form. That said, using a non-Board approved form carries risks. The Board will closely examine whether the agreement was clear, voluntary, and unambiguous, and whether the tenant understood they were giving up their right to continue the tenancy. Any uncertainty, pressure or missing detail can result in the document being rejected. For this reason, while a signed written agreement can be enforceable, the most reliable practice is always to use the Board-approved N11- Agreement to End the Tenancy Form. The prescribed form is available on the LTB website at https://tribunalsontario.ca/ltb/forms/.