Tenant Law
What I should know about entering into a lease
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Do I have to sign a lease?
No. However, most landlords require you to sign a lease, which is their right.
Generally, a lease will be for a 12 month period. Once that 12 month period has
expired, you do not legally have to sign a new lease. Your tenancy will go month to
month. The advantage to being a month-to-month tenant is that you only have to give
60 days written notice to move.
What information does a landlord have to give to a new tenant?
The landlord must provide his/her legal name and address to the tenant. A landlord
must also give new tenants the Information for New Tenants brochure. This
brochure provides information about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and
tenants, the role of the Landlord and Tenant Board and how to contact the Board.
If you were asked to sign a lease, the landlord has 21 days to give you a signed copy
of that lease.
Can a landlord ask for a last month's rent deposit?
Yes. A landlord can collect a last month’s rent deposit if it is requested on or before
the day that the landlord and tenant enter into the tenancy agreement. The deposit
cannot be more than one month's rent and it can be used only for the last month
before the tenancy ends. It cannot be used for anything else, such as to pay for
damages.
Can the landlord charge the tenant a damage deposit?
No.
Can the landlord refuse to rent to a person if the person has a pet?
Yes, if a landlord has a “no pets” policy. However, The Residential Tenancies Act
states that any clause in a lease that prohibits pets is void. This means that once a
person becomes a tenant, if the person has a pet, even though the lease says pets are
not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the tenant just for having the pet.
However, the landlord can give a tenant an eviction notice if the pet causes damage or
disturbs the neighbours.
Can a landlord ask a person applying for a rental unit to provide
information about income, credit references and rental history?
Yes. However, the Ontario Human Rights Code has special rules about asking for
information about the income of a prospective tenant. Landlords must follow these
rules.
What should I know before I move in with a roommate?
Sharing a rental accommodation has its own unique challenges. It is not always clear
what your rights and responsibilities are in this situation. CLEO has developed a web
tool to help you figure out which laws apply to your situation and what your rights
and responsibilities are. Click here to access this web tool.
No. However, most landlords require you to sign a lease, which is their right.
Generally, a lease will be for a 12 month period. Once that 12 month period has
expired, you do not legally have to sign a new lease. Your tenancy will go month to
month. The advantage to being a month-to-month tenant is that you only have to give
60 days written notice to move.
What information does a landlord have to give to a new tenant?
The landlord must provide his/her legal name and address to the tenant. A landlord
must also give new tenants the Information for New Tenants brochure. This
brochure provides information about the rights and responsibilities of landlords and
tenants, the role of the Landlord and Tenant Board and how to contact the Board.
If you were asked to sign a lease, the landlord has 21 days to give you a signed copy
of that lease.
Can a landlord ask for a last month's rent deposit?
Yes. A landlord can collect a last month’s rent deposit if it is requested on or before
the day that the landlord and tenant enter into the tenancy agreement. The deposit
cannot be more than one month's rent and it can be used only for the last month
before the tenancy ends. It cannot be used for anything else, such as to pay for
damages.
Can the landlord charge the tenant a damage deposit?
No.
Can the landlord refuse to rent to a person if the person has a pet?
Yes, if a landlord has a “no pets” policy. However, The Residential Tenancies Act
states that any clause in a lease that prohibits pets is void. This means that once a
person becomes a tenant, if the person has a pet, even though the lease says pets are
not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the tenant just for having the pet.
However, the landlord can give a tenant an eviction notice if the pet causes damage or
disturbs the neighbours.
Can a landlord ask a person applying for a rental unit to provide
information about income, credit references and rental history?
Yes. However, the Ontario Human Rights Code has special rules about asking for
information about the income of a prospective tenant. Landlords must follow these
rules.
What should I know before I move in with a roommate?
Sharing a rental accommodation has its own unique challenges. It is not always clear
what your rights and responsibilities are in this situation. CLEO has developed a web
tool to help you figure out which laws apply to your situation and what your rights
and responsibilities are. Click here to access this web tool.
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