Rental Living Resources

This agreement applies if the accommodation is self-contained with a private kitchen and private bathroom. In this case the house or apartment will be covered under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).

As of April 30, 2018, rental situations covered by the RTA require the landlord and tenant to use a single standardized lease provided by the Province of Ontario.  If you signed a lease before April 30, 2018 then that lease stands, with the exception of clauses that violate the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).   

If you are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, this Information for New Tenants webpage  from the Landlord and Tenant Board applies to you.

This agreement applies if a roomer is living with a homeowner, or a member of the homeowner's immediate family, and sharing a kitchen and/or a bathroom with the homeowner. In this case there is no coverage under the Residential Tenancies Act. This usually applies to rooms in private homes or some shared houses where the son or daughter of the homeowner resides in the rental accommodation with you. Find sample agreements and additional resources on our Renting a Room page.

If you sublet your room, the original lease agreement signed between you and your landlord is still valid, meaning you are still responsible to your landlord for the rent, any damages incurred by your sub-tenant and any noise complaints, garbage etc. until the end of the agreement. The sublet agreement signed between you and the sub-tenant is separate from the lease, but is just as legally binding. You basically become their landlord. The tenant should never make an agreement with the sub-tenant that lasts longer than their original lease agreement and the rent charged to the sub-tenant cannot exceed that charged by the landlord to the tenant.

Terms of the sublet agreement should by clear and include: rent price, duration of stay, use of common areas and furniture, and price of utilities. A copy of the lease signed between the landlord and the original tenant should also be given to the subtenant along with the sublet agreement. Subletters are responsible to the tenant for paying rent, abiding by the terms of the sublease and reporting maintenance and repairs to either their landlord (the tenant) or the original landlord.

A Housemate Agreement is a contract entered into by tenants of a residency that establishes rules and guidelines for financial and household responsibilities, along with other topics that often arise during housemate visits to Off-Campus Living. 

• Make sure that the unit you are viewing is the one you will be renting.
• Please remember that you will be living in the accommodation you choose every day for the term of the lease.  The place where you live will have an impact on your sense of well-being, which will also influence your studies and your university life in general.
• Ask the current tenants what the house is really like.
• Contact the gas and electric companies to determine the average cost of utilities for the accommodation you are considering.
• It is always best to have your rental agreement in writing.
• Check with an insurance company about providing insurance for your belongings.

• Do you feel comfortable with the neighbourhood?
• Are there adequate locks to provide security?
• Are there smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors? Are they working?
• Are there accessible and barrier-free fire escape routes?
• Does every bedroom have a window large enough to use as an escape in the case of an emergency?
• When there are more than 4 bedrooms, does the landlord have a lodging house license?
• Is the accommodation clean/spacious/well lit/adequately heated/ properly ventilated?
• Will you have direct control over your heating?
• Will cleaning/painting of the unit be arranged before you move in?
• To what extent may you paint or decorate your accommodation?
• Is the plumbing and water pressure adequate and in good working order?
• What appliances are provided? Are they in good working order?
• If laundry facilities are not available, where is the closest laundromat?
• Is there a closet in each bedroom?
• Is there adequate storage space for your belongings? Can these be locked? Who else might have access?
• Will there be enough off-street parking available?  Is the accommodation near a bus stop?
• Is bicycle storage available?
• Are you expected to pay extra for utilities, cable TV, internet or parking? If so, how much?
• If you will be sharing: Are there adequate bathroom/cooking facilities for everyone to use during peak times? Do you have full kitchen/bathroom privileges?
• Is it as quiet as you require?