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Starting a Tenancy
Home > Tenant Law > Starting a Tenancy
Home > Tenant Law > Starting a Tenancy
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 months 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 the landlord’s 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
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 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 for having 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
they have a pet even though the lease says pets are not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the
tenant just for having the pet.
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 months 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 the landlord’s 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
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 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 for having 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
they have a pet even though the lease says pets are not allowed, the landlord cannot evict the
tenant just for having the pet.
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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