Lease and rental agreements

Rental agreements between a landlord and tenant are commonly referred to as a “lease”.

In Canada, there are two types of rental agreements:

• Written lease
• Verbal rental agreement

A written lease is a good idea because it clearly specifies what a landlord and tenant are agreeing to when renting a property.

It outlines terms for:

• The rent.
• Parties responsible.
• What is included and what is not.
• Conditions for terminating the lease.

Both written and oral rental agreements define the legal rights and responsibilities for both the landlord and the tenant. This is important as they can be referred to if a conflict arises between either. Note, however, that verbal consent makes it much more difficult to refer to in the event of a dispute as each party might remember things differently.

It’s important to note that the types of dwellings covered by tenancy legislation varies by province and territory. In some provinces mobile home park residents, for instance, are protected under the provincial tenancy legislation, while in others they are excluded.

For information on Rental rights by province or territory please consult with those agencies.