Rental law is provincial or territorial. The permitted deposit, rent-increase rules, required notice and dispute process depend on where the home is located.
Set the full housing budget
Include rent, electricity, heating, water, internet, tenant insurance, laundry, parking and transportation. Ask which utilities are included and whether the amount has changed during the past year.
Prepare a safe application package
A landlord may ask about income, employment, references and credit history. If you do not yet have Canadian credit, offer other reliable evidence such as savings, employment documents or prior-landlord references.
Do not put your SIN, bank password or complete immigration file in a routine application. Ask why each document is needed and how it will be protected.
Check before paying
- Visit the property or have a trusted person view it.
- Confirm the person advertising it has authority to rent it.
- Search the address and listing photos for copied advertisements.
- Read the entire lease and compare the names, unit, rent and included services.
- Get a receipt for every payment.
Be cautious if the “landlord” is outside the country, will not show the unit, demands cryptocurrency or gift cards, or pressures you to pay before reviewing a lease.
At move-in
Photograph the condition of every room and record existing damage. Complete the required inspection report where your jurisdiction uses one. Arrange tenant insurance if needed and learn how to report repairs.
If there is a problem
Keep requests in writing and save photos, receipts and messages. Use the provincial or territorial tenancy authority’s forms and deadlines. A landlord or tenant should not rely on a generic internet form where local law requires a specific notice.