RENTING · CANADA
Renting your first place in Canada
What to check before you sign, how deposits actually work province by province, what a landlord may ask for — and what to offer when you have no credit history yet.
Last reviewed 15 September 2026.
Before you sign anything
See the actual unit you will live in, not a model or a photo. If someone will not let you view it and pushes you to send a deposit by transfer, walk away — that is the most common rental scam in Canada.
Check who owns the place. The person collecting rent should be named on the lease, and you are entitled to the landlord's legal name and an address for service.
Read what is included: heat, water, electricity, parking, laundry, internet. In older buildings the heating bill can be the difference between an affordable place and an impossible one.
The lease itself
Ontario requires the standard lease form for most private residential tenancies. Other provinces have their own required or recommended forms. A lease cannot take away a right the provincial tenancy law gives you, even if you sign it.
Look for the term (fixed or month to month), what happens at the end of a fixed term, the rules on guests, pets and smoking, and who is responsible for which repairs.
Photograph every room, appliance and any existing damage on move-in day, and email the photos to yourself so they are time-stamped. This is what settles deposit disputes later.
Deposits, rent and what a landlord may ask
A rent deposit is applied to your last rental period. A security or damage deposit, where provinces allow one, is held and must be returned with interest in most places, minus documented damage beyond normal wear.
Get a receipt for every payment. If you pay in cash, a receipt is your only proof — and in most provinces a landlord must provide one on request.
Landlords may ask for references, proof of income and consent to a credit check. They may not require you to provide a social insurance number, and asking for one is discouraged by privacy regulators.
If you are new to the country
Offer what you do have: a job offer letter, bank statements, a settlement agency letter, or a guarantor who lives in Canada. Many landlords accept this in place of a credit score.
Newcomer settlement agencies, campus housing offices and provincial tenant hotlines will review a lease with you for free before you sign.
Keep everything in writing. Text messages and email count as evidence at a tenancy tribunal; a verbal promise does not.
Common questions
Can a landlord in Canada ask for a damage deposit?
It depends on the province. Ontario and Quebec do not allow damage or security deposits — only a rent deposit applied to the last rental period. British Columbia, Alberta and most other provinces allow a security deposit, usually capped at half a month's or one month's rent.
Can a landlord refuse me because I have no credit history?
A landlord may consider credit, but they cannot refuse you on grounds protected by human rights law — such as where you came from, your family status, receiving social assistance, or having children. A newcomer with no credit file can offer references, proof of income or a guarantor instead.
How much rent can a landlord ask for up front?
Generally first and last month's rent at most, where a rent deposit is allowed. Demands for six or twelve months paid in advance are a common sign of a scam, and are not permitted in several provinces.
Do I need tenant insurance?
The building's insurance covers the building, never your belongings or your liability. Many leases require tenant insurance, and it usually costs less than a phone plan. Get it before you move in.
Official sources
- CMHC — renting in Canada, your rights and responsibilities
- Ontario — standard lease and Residential Tenancies Act
- British Columbia — Residential Tenancy Branch
- Alberta — Residential Tenancies Act information
Tenancy law is provincial. Where this guide and your province's tenancy act differ, the act wins — the official links above are the place to check.