Province to student renters: Know your rights before you move in

Government of Ontario Media Release

As more than 600,000 university and college students across Ontario are preparing to go back to school, many of whom are becoming renters off-campus for the first time, Ontario is reminding students to understand their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act outlines the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants for most residential properties in the province, and includes rules about:

• How to terminate a lease
• When rent can be increased
• Repairs to rental units
• Rent receipts and deposits, subletting, having pets and changing locks

To help your rental experience go as smoothly as possible:

• Be aware of your rights and responsibilities as a tenant
• Keep open lines of communication with your landlord to minimize disagreements
• Ask your landlord to agree to rental terms in writing
• Always keep copies of documents that you provide to your landlord
• If your landlord has violated the Residential Tenancies Act or you have a complaint, contact the Investigation and Enforcement Unit