First-Time Landlord Checklist: What to Do Before and After the Lease Is Signed
Becoming a landlord in Ontario is more regulated than most people expect. The first few weeks set the tone for the whole tenancy. Here is a practical checklist, updated for the 2026 rule changes.
Key points
- Screen consistently and within the Human Rights Code.
- Use Ontario’s Standard Lease for most residential tenancies.
- You can collect a last month’s rent deposit and a refundable key deposit, but not a damage deposit.
- The 2027 rent increase guideline is 1.9%, and the N4 notice period is now 7 days.
Good habits at the start prevent most of the disputes we see at the LTB. Here is what to do, step by step.
Before choosing a tenant
- Check income, references and credit, with the applicant’s consent.
- Apply the same criteria to every applicant and keep notes.
- Follow the Human Rights Code. You can’t refuse someone based on protected grounds such as family status or receipt of public assistance.
See tenant screening red flags.
Before signing the lease
- Use Ontario’s Standard Lease and complete every section.
- Add extra terms only if they are allowed under the Residential Tenancies Act. See the Ontario Standard Lease.
- Collect a last month’s rent deposit if you want one, and pay interest on it every year at the guideline rate. Damage deposits aren’t allowed. See damage deposits.
- Decide whether the tenant can receive notices by email and record their written consent.
- If the unit is exempt from the guideline, say so in the lease and keep proof.
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Inspect the unit with the tenant. Photograph every room, wall and appliance, and have the tenant sign or acknowledge the inspection report. This record is the baseline for any damage claim later.
During the tenancy
- Respond to repair requests in writing.
- Give 24 hours’ written notice before entering, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- Keep a rent ledger with due dates and payment dates.
- When a fixed-term lease ends, it continues month to month automatically. The tenant doesn’t have to sign a new lease.
- Raise rent only once every 12 months, with 90 days’ notice on the LTB form, within the guideline unless the unit is exempt.
- Since July 1, 2026, tenants can install their own window or portable air conditioner if they meet the conditions.
If problems start
If rent is late, you can serve an N4 the day after it is due. For N4s served on or after September 21, 2026, the termination date must be at least 7 days after service. Use the current LTB forms. Older versions won’t be accepted after November 30, 2026. Never change the locks or cut off services to pressure a tenant. Get advice early. See what is an N4 notice.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the Ontario Standard Lease?
Yes, for most residential tenancies in Ontario.
Can I collect a damage deposit?
No. You can collect a last month’s rent deposit and a refundable key deposit, but not a damage deposit.
What happens when the lease ends?
It continues month to month automatically. The tenant doesn’t have to sign a new lease or leave.
How much can I raise the rent in 2027?
Up to the 1.9% guideline for most units, once every 12 months, with 90 days’ notice.
How long is the N4 notice period?
For N4s served on or after September 21, 2026, at least 7 days.
About Robert Di Lisi
Robert is a paralegal licensed by the Law Society of Ontario and co-founder of Stonegate Legal Services, a landlord-only firm. He leads client intake and speaks at landlord seminars across the GTA. Like the rest of the team, he is a landlord himself.
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