Signing your first lease in Ontario? Learn what the standard lease is, how much and how often rent can go up, what a deposit can and cannot be used for, and where to get help from the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Finding a place to live is one of the first big decisions after arriving in Ontario, and it is also where newcomers are most likely to feel pressure to sign quickly. The good news is that Ontario law gives tenants real protections, and they apply to you from your first day as a renter, whatever your immigration status or how long you have lived in Canada. This guide explains the basics in plain language so you can sign a lease with confidence.
Ontario has an official Residential Tenancy Agreement, called the standard lease. According to the Government of Ontario, it is required for most residential tenancy agreements signed on or after April 30, 2018. Your landlord must give you a copy within 21 days after you sign it. Some housing is not covered, including care homes, mobile home park sites, land lease communities, most social and supportive housing, and co-operative housing.
If you are entitled to a standard lease and did not receive one, you can ask for it in writing. The landlord must provide it within 21 calendar days. If they do not, the province explains that you can withhold one month's rent, and if there is still no lease 30 calendar days after you withheld it, you can keep that rent. You cannot withhold more than one month, and you must keep paying your regular rent. Because this step has rules, read the official guidance before using it.
Landlords sometimes add extra terms to a lease. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, an additional term that takes away a tenant's right is void, meaning it has no legal effect even if you signed it. The Government of Ontario gives examples of void terms: no pets, no guests, roommates or additional occupants, damage or pet deposits, and interest on rent arrears. If you see a clause like this, you do not need to argue about it before signing, but you should know it cannot be enforced.
The standard lease has sections for a rent deposit and a key deposit, and the law limits the amount and how each is treated. One rule is especially important: a rent deposit cannot be used as a damage deposit. Always ask for a written receipt for any money you pay, and keep it with your lease.
In most cases, a landlord can increase rent only if at least 12 months have passed since the last increase or since the tenancy began. The landlord must give written notice in the proper form at least 90 days before the increase takes effect. Ontario sets a yearly rent increase guideline. The guideline for 2026 was 2.1 per cent, and the Government of Ontario lists the guideline for 2027 as 1.9 per cent. The guideline is capped at 2.5 per cent.
There are exceptions. The guideline does not apply to new buildings, additions and most new basement apartments first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018. It also does not apply when a tenancy turns over and the landlord and new tenant agree on the rent, or to community housing and long-term care homes. If you believe an increase was not done properly, you can dispute it at the Landlord and Tenant Board within 12 months after the amount was first charged.
A landlord cannot simply tell you to move out. Notice must be given on the Landlord and Tenant Board's proper form, and it must state the reason. You do not have to leave because of a notice alone: the landlord must obtain an eviction order from the Board first. For a landlord's own use, the landlord must generally pay the equivalent of one month's rent or offer another unit, unless they give at least 120 days' notice. Harassing or threatening a tenant to force them to move is an offence under the Act.
Housing rules change, so confirm figures on Ontario.ca before acting. This article is general information, not legal advice.
At the Ontario Immigrants Association, our programs help newcomer women build confidence, English communication and practical life skills in a supportive, bilingual community. Our members join workshops online across Ontario and connect with other women who have faced the same questions about housing, work and daily life. To learn more about our programs and the 6-month membership, visit ontarioia.ca.
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