Ontario Standard Lease Requirements
In Ontario, most residential landlords are required to use the Standard Form of Lease for agreements signed on or after April 30, 2018. Our tool generates a simplified template that aligns with the core requirements of the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA).
Key Ontario Rental Rules:
- Rent Deposit: Landlords can only collect a rent deposit for the last month's rent. It cannot be used as a damage deposit.
- Key Deposit: A landlord can only ask for a refundable key deposit that is not more than the actual cost of replacing the keys.
- Rent Increases: Rent can typically only be increased once every 12 months, following the Ontario Rent Increase Guideline, and requires 90 days' written notice.
- No Pet Clauses: Under the RTA, "no pet" clauses in a lease are generally void and unenforceable (with very few exceptions).