1. How do I find my rental?
2. Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?
3. Do I Need a Lawyer?
4. What is the Landlord and Tenant Board?
5. Must landlords and tenants have a written lease?
6. How long are most lease agreements? Can I do something short-term? (Less
than a year)
7. How do I end my lease?
8. Can I end my lease early?
9. Can I sublet my unit?
10. Do I have to keep records of my rent and my lease? Do I get receipts
for my rent payments?
11. When can a landlord enter my apartment?
12. How can I be legally evicted?
13. How much can they increase my rent by?
14. What if I am late on rent payments?
15. What deposits or fees am I responsible for?
16. What other documents will the Landlord ask for?
17. Will I get to meet the Landlord?
18. What costs and fees is the landlord responsible for?
19. Who is responsible for the repair costs and maintenance of the unit?
20. What are the rules about having pets?
21. What if my landlord decides to sell the unit? Does that mean I have
to move out?
22. What if I want to buy the unit myself?
22. How do I renew my lease
1. How do I find my rental?
An Assignment Professional will do the searching for you, and constantly
update you with the latest availabilities including exclusive listings not advertised
on the MLS. By telling them what your looking for, they examine the availabilities
and put you on a program to get the perfect rental unit.
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2. Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?
An Assignment Professional will negotiate prices, clauses, and conditions,
along with doing a thorough search for the best property at no fee to you, therefore
it is wise to have them looking out for your best interest. They will explain what
is outlined in the Agreement and negotiate the best deal for you!
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3. Do I Need a Lawyer?
Usually we do not find that renters take the time or spend the money on consulting
with a lawyer regarding a rental transaction, however, as a professional we must
always advise that you check with a lawyer (typical disclaimer)
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4. What is the Landlord and Tenant Board?
They provide information about the Residential Tenancies Act (1996) to landlords
and tenants. The Act sets the rules for rentals, and outlines the rights and responsibilities
of landlords and tenants. In many cases, once landlords and tenants are aware of
their rights and obligations they can resolve their own problems. However, if a
landlord and tenant cannot resolve their problems, then another responsibility of
the Board is to resolve these problems for them. Landlords and tenants can file
an application with the Board. Once an application is filed, the parties have an
opportunity to have their problems addressed at a hearing. At the hearing, a Member
of the Board will make a decision on the application based on the evidence presented
by the landlord and tenant. Or, if both the landlord and tenant agree, a Mediator
from the Board can work with them and try to help them reach their own agreement.
Here is the link to the official website of the Landlord and Tenant Board: http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/STEL02_111292.html
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5. Must landlords and tenants have a written lease?
A tenancy agreement is a contract between a landlord and tenant in which
the tenant agrees to pay rent for the right to live in a rental unit provided by
the landlord. In it, the landlord and tenant may also promise to do certain things
for each other and to follow certain rules. Sometimes tenancy agreements are called
"leases".
The Residential Tenancies Act does not require all landlords and tenants to have
a written tenancy agreement or lease. A tenancy agreement can be an oral or written
arrangement. However, it is generally better to have a written agreement. A written
agreement creates a record of the things agreed to by the landlord and tenant. If
there is a dispute later, a written record of the agreement may help to settle the
dispute. This is why you need us to prepare a document that protects your interest.
http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/STEL02_111463.html
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6. How long are most lease agreements? Can I do
something short-term? (Less than a year)
Most lease agreements are contracted for a one year period. But some landlords
do offer short-term leases. For example during the summer months, owners going away
on vacation may lease their units out for 3-4 months. Or the Landlord and Tenant
may agree to a longer lease period, 1 and a half years-2 years, etc. No matter the
length, this lease term will always be explicitly outlined in the Lease Agreement.
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7. How do I end my lease?
A tenant may end a Lease by giving the Landlord at least 60 days written
notice prior to the end of the term of the lease. Here is the link to the N9 Form:
Tenant's Notice to Terminate a Tenancy taken from the Landlord and Tenant Board.
http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/graphics/stel02_111572.pdf
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8. Can I end my lease early?
By mutual consent of the Landlord you can break your lease contract
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9. Can I sublet my unit?
A sublet occurs when a tenant moves out of the rental unit, lets another
person live there for a period of time, but returns to live in the unit before the
tenancy ends. A tenant must have the landlord's approval for a sublet, and the landlord
must have a good reason for refusing. http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/STEL02_111482.html
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10. Do I have to keep records of my rent and my
lease? Do I get receipts for my rent payments?
It is always best for both parties to have a copy of the Lease Agreement
for their own personal records in case any disputes arise and they need to refer
to the Agreement at a later date. Most tenants lose these documents, but not to
worry as we are responsible for keeping a full record of the tenancy for future
reference. In terms of receipts for rent payments, rent deposits or any other charge,
the Landlord must provide them if the Tenant asks for it. http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/graphics/stel02_111724.pdf
pg.2
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11. When can a landlord enter my apartment?
Before entering your apartment the landlord or their employee must give you
24 hours written notice (the time must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) to make necessary
repairs or to do an inspection. No notice is necessary in cases of emergencies,
if you give the landlord permission to do so, or in cases where a notice to terminate
the lease (by either the tenant or landlord) has been given.
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12. How can I be legally evicted?
If you have been given a Notice of Termination by the landlord, you should
immediately contact your lawyer or the local Community Legal Aid in all cases.
The landlord can evict you for the following grounds: · Non-payment of rent on the
day it is due. · If you do illegal acts or allow someone to do illegal acts on the
grounds or anywhere in the building. · If you or other residents of your unit or
your guests wilfully or negligently causes undue damage or impair the safety of
any person or substantially interferes" with the reasonable enjoyment of the other
tenants you can be evicted. · If the number of persons occupying the rental unit
on a continuing basis results in a contravention of health, safety or housing standards
required by law on overcrowding
There are other grounds for eviction, such as if the landlord personally needs the
apartment to live in, if they are demolishing the building, converting the building
or doing major repairs or renovations that they need your unit vacated.. And yes,
you can be evicted any time, even in the middle of winter. http://www.ontariotenants.ca/law/law.phtml#Q9
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13. How much can they increase my rent by?
The Annual Guideline Increase is an amount set each year by the government.
The increase is 2.6% for 2007. For previous years see the Ontario Rent Increase
Guidelines http://www.ontariotenants.ca/research/rent-increase.phtml http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en/Key_Information/158150.html
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14. What if I am late on rent payments?
Issues of late payments should try and be resolved first between the landlord
and tenant. An Assignment Professional can assist with any problems that may arise
between you and the landlord. We always do our utmost to protect our clients and
prevent the landlord from taking any issues up with the board.
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15. What deposits or fees am I responsible for?
At the beginning of the Lease, the Tenant will usually be asked to pay First
and Last Month's rent as a deposit. In most cases the tenant will agree to provide
post-dated cheques as monthly payments and a key deposit.
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16. What other documents will the Landlord ask
for?
The Landlord may ask for such things as an Employment Letter, Credit Check,
Rental Application filled out by the Tenant and sometimes photo I.D.
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17 Will I get to meet the Landlord?
In some cases, the Landlord and Tenant never get to meet face to face as
some deal instead with the agent that represents them.
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18. What costs and fees is the landlord responsible
for?
The Landlord is usually responsible for paying utilities, Realty Tax, Maintenance
Fees. Fire insurance on the Premises is also paid for by the Landlord, but does
not include coverage for the Tenant's personal belongings. Hydro costs may or may
not be covered by the Landlord. Internet, Cable, Telephone and Content Insurance
are usually paid by the Tenant.
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19. Who is responsible for the repair costs and
maintenance of the unit?
A landlord must keep a rental property in a good state of repair. All things
that the landlord provides to the tenant must be kept in working order. This could
include items such as: · electrical, plumbing or heating systems, · appliances,
· carpets, · walls, roofs, ceilings, · windows, doors, locks, lighting, If something
no longer works because of normal "wear and tear," the landlord must repair it so
that it works properly, or replace it. When something is replaced, however, the
landlord does not have to supply a new or better model. If damage is caused by wilful
or negligent behaviour by the Tenant or by persons who are permitted on the premises
by him, the Tenant is responsible for the costs to repair those items and must maintain
the property, appliances and fixtures in a good state of cleanliness and repair.
http://www.ltb.gov.on.ca/graphics/stel02_111731.pdf
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20. What are the rules about having pets?
If a landlord has a "no pets" policy and they learn that a person applying
to rent an apartment has a pet, the landlord may refuse to rent to that person.
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21. What if my landlord decides to sell the unit?
Does that mean I have to move out?
If a Landlord decides to put their property on the market in the middle of
a Lease, they must notify the Tenant of their intention to sell. The Landlord and
his agent must also give the Tenant notice (usually 24 hours) to show the units
to prospective buyers. If the Landlord successfully sells their unit, the new Owner
will usually agree to take on the Tenancy and therefore the Tenant has the right
to stay until the last day of their Lease Agreement. All the Landlord's responsibilities
are taken on by the new owner and all the conditions outlined in the Lease Agreement
continue to apply until the end of the Lease Agreement.
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22. What if I want to buy the unit myself?
In this case speak with one of our representitives. When you are making a
decision that costs $250,000 + you do not want to make the mistake of just making
your own agreement. You will be given comparable properties to make an educated
decision and again our services are free to you.
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23. How do I renew my lease
For problems and questions who do I contact? The landlord, however, an Assignment
Professional will provide a full service program, feel free to contact them as they
are eventually looking to be your agent of choice in your future real estate endeavours
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