2. Give your opening statement

The Board process is less formal than a court, so some Board members run hearings differently than other members. But there are some basic things that you should expect to happen at your hearing.

The Board member might ask you and your landlord to each start with an “opening statement”.  Because this is your landlord’s application, the Board will usually expect them to speak and present their case first.

In your opening statement, you tell the Board member:

• a summary of why you don’t think you should have to move out
• what orders you’re asking the Board to make (for example, to dismiss the landlord’s application, or to give you time to pay rent owing)
• what evidence you will be presenting

You do not present your evidence in your opening statement but you can tell the Board member briefly what your evidence will be about.