Here's Everything You Need To Know If You're Renting A Home In Canada

Renting a home in Canada involves several key considerations to ensure a smooth and successful experience. Here is a complete guide for individuals or families renting a home in Canada:

Credit: Reuters

Tenants and landlords

Your ¡°landlord¡± is the person who owns the house or building you live in. For larger buildings, the landlord may hire a ¡°property manager¡± or ¡°superintendent¡± to collect rent and manage the building.

Each province or territory has different laws for:

• renting
• what landlords and tenants are responsible for

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Provincial and Territorial Fact Sheets:

• tell you how to rent
• explain the laws for each province and territory
• give you contact information for provincial and territorial rental authorities

In general, your landlord:

• collects the rent
• keeps your building safe and in good condition
• provides everything that is included in your rent, such as stove heating, refrigerator

As a tenant, you must:

• pay your total rent on time
• keep your home clean and maintain it well
• contact the landlord when anything needs to be fixed
• let the landlord or manager enter your home to 1) do repairs and 2) show the apartment to other people (if you¡¯re moving out)

Your landlord must let you know if they¡¯ll be coming into your apartment.

If you have a problem with your landlord, contact the rental authority in your province or territory.

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Finding a place to rent

There are many ways to find houses or apartments to rent. You can:

• ask your friends
• check the classified ads in newspapers, community centres, bulletin boards, and shops
• check online classified ads
• visit rental agency websites
• ask for help at an immigrant-serving organisation
• pay a rental agency to help you find a rental home
• visit neighbourhoods and look for ¡°For Rent¡± signs on houses or buildings

Before you visit a place you might want to rent, make a checklist of questions you may want to ask the landlord or superintendent.

In Canada, landlords can ask you for references (such as a past landlord or an employer) who can confirm that you¡¯ll be a good tenant. They can also:

• ask you where you work
• check your credit history
• ask you what your income is

You can get help from an immigrant-serving organisation if you don¡¯t have:

• a job
• references
• a credit history in Canada

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Moving in and signing a lease

When you agree to rent a place, you and your landlord should sign a lease. A lease is a written rental agreement that outlines everything you and your landlord have agreed to. It¡¯s a legal document, so make sure you read and understand every word. You may choose to ask someone to go over it with you, such as a friend, relative, lawyer or even a staff member at an immigrant-serving organisation.

Ask your landlord or the superintendent to go over the rules and instructions for the following:

• laundry
• getting your mail
• garbage and recycling
• how the appliances work
• tenant and visitor parking
• using the intercom (in an apartment building)

A landlord may ask you for a rental deposit when you sign the lease. If you don¡¯t pay the rent or you damage the home, the landlord will use the deposit to cover the costs. When you move out, the landlord will either return the deposit to you or use it to pay for your last month of rent.

Paying the rent

You usually have to pay the rent to your landlord, superintendent or property manager on the first day of every month. You can pay your rent:

• in cash
• by post-dated cheques - many landlords ask for 12 cheques dated the first day of each month for the next 12 months
• by certified cheques (cheques guaranteed by a bank) - many landlords ask for a certified cheque for the first and last month

Make sure you ask your landlord for a receipt and keep it as proof of payment.

In some places, your rent may include some or all of your utilities, such as:

• heat
• water
• electricity

If they¡¯re not included in your rent, you must pay these bills yourself.

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Rent increases

In most areas, your landlord must give you a 90-day notice before they increase your rent. Usually, landlords can increase your rent only once each year.

Moving out

Before moving out, you must notify your landlord that you¡¯ll be leaving. You must give one, two or three months¡¯ notice. This depends on the province or territory you live in.

If you have a lease, the law may not let you end the lease early. If you need to end it early, you must arrange this with the landlord or pay an amount set by law in your province or territory.

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