Step 5: What if someone receives a Sheriff’s Notice to Vacate?

Once a landlord files an Eviction Order with the Court Enforcement Office (also known as the Sheriff), the office might provide the tenant with a Notice to Vacate. However, not all tenants will receive this Notice to Vacate, and the Court Enforcement Office might just show up and evict them without warning. 

If your client receives a Notice to Vacate, it will include important information:

• The approximate date and time that their eviction will occur (evictions take place on weekdays)
• The Reference File Number
  • This is the most important piece of information for someone looking to get more information about their eviction. It is located in the top right-hand corner.
  • If your client doesn’t have any paperwork from the eviction process, they can attend at the Landlord and Tenant Board and provide their Reference File Number to access all of the paperwork associated with their landlord’s eviction application.

If your client knows their approximate eviction date:

1. They should make sure they have enough clothing as well as any medication and important documents with them when they are evicted.
2. Once the Sheriff changes the locks, they will have 72 hours to remove their belongings. 
   • Landlords must provide access to these belongings between the hours of 8am-8pm during this 72-hour period.
   • After 72 hours, the landlord can legally dispose of or sell their belongings.
3. If they want to keep anything that they might have to leave behind, they should make sure they tell their landlord what it is that they want to keep before the eviction and tell them that they will be coming back to get it.
4. If your client has pets and they aren’t at home at the time of the eviction, the Court Enforcement Office will call the local humane society.

Remember: Only the Court Enforcement Office (also known as the Sheriff) can legally change the locks on a rental unit. 

How You Can Help:

• Step 1: Help your client attend at the Landlord and Tenant Board to get any paperwork associated with their eviction using the Reference File Number located in the top right corner of their Notice to Vacate.
  • If they want advice about whether the eviction can be avoided, help your client make copies of this paperwork to provide to a legal service provider.
• Step 2: Help your client make a plan for their approximate eviction date. Remind them to gather enough clothing, any medication they might require, and any important documents before the eviction and have it with them on the date of the eviction.