A. There are many kinds of houses for rent in Canada:
- Apartment,
- Condominium,
- Townhouse,
- Attached house,
- Detached house,
- Basement
B. There are many price choices for different needs. You can rent a whole house or suit, or share with other people. If you need to rent a place to live, read a newspaper or a free rental magazine, locate a district you want to live, and call the advertised telephone.
You should:
- Make an appointment with the landlord, and go to have a look at the place with your family member.
- Try to know more about transportation, shopping, safety, and other situation of the surrounding environment before you decide to pay the deposit
- Like to know more about the facilities if you are a sports lover.
- You need to live close to a convenient and satisfying daycare center or school if you have kids.
- Don’t feel embarrassed when you don’t like the place, you may say thanks to the landlord and go away. When you do like the place, you need to read the contract carefully, if there is any.
C. Before you move in the new place, you may like to know the following information:
- Your landlord can ask for a last month’s rent deposit, but it is illegal to ask for any other deposit, or commission.
- Always get a receipt when you pay a rent deposit or any other charge. If you have paid an illegal deposit or charge, you can apply to the Tribunal for a rent rebate.
- Your landlord must wait 12 months after you move in to increase your rent, any increase after that must be at least 12 months apart. The annual rent increase must not surpass the regulated guideline.
D. Landlords must give you notice if they want to come in to do repairs or to show the apartment to a buyer, insurer or mortgage lender. However, the law allows your landlord to enter your apartment without notice:
- In case of emergency,
- If you consent at the time of entry, or
- To clean your apartment if your tenancy agreement provides for this.
You can’t be evicted unless your landlord applies to the Tribunal and receives an order to evict you. For problems like harassment, discrimination, privacy violations or threats of illegal eviction, you can contact the Investigation Unit of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
For more detailed information on this topic, please go to updated phone numbers.
