Renting a home

On this page, we’ll help you prepare to rent a home in Canada. Learn about the responsibilities of landlords and tenants, how to find a rental, how lease agreements work and what to keep in mind when moving in or out of a unit.

On this page

• Types of rentals
• Responsibilities of landlords and tenants
• Finding a place to rent
• Visiting rental units
• Moving in and signing a lease
• Rent increases
• Moving out

Types of rentals

There are different types of housing for rent in Canada. Common rental examples

• an apartment (in a building with many units)
• a house
• a room in someone’s house or condominium

Responsibilities of landlords and tenants

Your landlord is the person who owns the house or building you live in. A landlord can also hire a property manager or superintendent to collect rent and manage the rental for them.

Both renters and landlords have legal rights and responsibilities when they sign a rental agreement. Each province and territory has its own residential tenancy act that explains what landlords and tenants must do.

In general, your landlord

• collects the rent
• keeps the property safe and in good condition
• provides items or services that may be included in the rental agreement, including
  • appliances, like a stove or refrigerator
  • utilities, like electricity or heating

In Canada, landlords can ask you for references from, for example, a past landlord or an employer, to confirm that you’ll be a good tenant. Landlords can also

• ask you where you work
• check your credit history
• ask for proof of income

As a tenant, you must

• pay your rent on time
• keep your home clean and in good condition
• contact the landlord when items need repairing, like broken appliances or leaky faucets
• let the landlord or manager enter your home to
  • do repairs
  • show the apartment or unit to other people (if you’re moving out)

If you don’t have a job, references or a credit history in Canada, you can ask a newcomer services provider what you should do to get started.

Learn your rights as a renter.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also provides information on

• renting in Canada
• the tenant and landlord laws for each province and territory
• contacting provincial and territorial rental authorities

Finding a place to rent

There are many ways to find a place to rent:

• Ask your friends.
• Search on social media apps or other online advertising websites (like Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji)
• Check the classified ads
  • in newspapers
  • at community centres
  • on bulletin boards in shops or stores
• Visit rental agency websites.
• Pay a rental agency to help you find a home to rent.
• Visit neighbourhoods and look for signs on houses or buildings that say “For Rent.”
• Ask a newcomer services provider for help.

Before you visit a rental unit, make a list of questions you may want to ask the landlord or superintendent.

Visiting rental units

When visiting a rental unit, take the time to ask questions about the unit and check that everything works.

• Turn on the faucets to check water pressure and temperature, and turn on the appliances if they are included in the rental agreement.
• Ask if the utilities (like heat, water, electricity and Internet) are included in the rental price. If not, you must make sure the utilities get connected and pay for them.
• Find out if the neighbourhood is safe by researching online or by visiting the neighbourhood in person.

Moving in and signing a lease

When you agree to rent a place, you and your landlord should sign a lease (also called a rental agreement). A lease is a legal document that describes what you and your landlord have agreed to for the rental period. It includes the rental cost, payment due dates, rental period, and maintenance responsibilities.
In some provinces, when you sign the lease, a landlord may ask for

• rent for the first and last months of the rental period
• a security deposit

In these cases, if you stop paying rent or damage the property, your landlord will use the deposit to cover these costs. They may also request more money if your security deposit is not enough to cover the damages.

Before you sign a lease, make sure that you understand it. You may want to ask a friend, relative or newcomer services provider to help you. If you have complicated or serious concerns, you may want to ask a lawyer for a consultation. There may be a fee.

You usually have to pay the rent to your landlord, superintendent or property manager on the first day of every month. Pay your rent according to the terms specified in your lease. Your lease usually includes the option to pay

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

Always ask your landlord for a receipt and keep it as proof of payment.

Before you move in, ask your landlord or the superintendent to explain the rules for

• doing laundry
• getting your mail
• taking out garbage and recycling
• using the appliances
• tenant and visitor parking
• using the intercom (in an apartment or a condo building)

Rent increases

Each province and territory has its own rules for rent increases. In most parts of Canada, your landlord must give you a 90-day written notice before they increase your rent.
Some provinces and territories limit the amount a landlord can increase rent prices each year. Make sure you know your rights as a renter.

Moving out

One to three months before moving out, you must tell your landlord in writing that you will be leaving. The amount of time you give depends on the province or territory you live in.

If you’re renting, you may not be able to end your lease early. If you need to end it early, arrange it with your landlord. Depending on the law in your province or territory, you may have to pay a fee. You may also be able to sublet your unit until the lease ends.