Monitor our most recent coronavirus (COVID-19) updates.

Skip to content
CMHC Logo Canada Mortgage
and Housing Corporation
  • Sign In or Register
  • FRANÇAIS
  •  MENU
 MENU
× FRANÇAIS
  • Home
  • Professionals
    • Project funding and mortgage financing
      • Funding programs
        • New construction
        • Renovation, repair and renewal
        • Innovation and research
        • Community (social) housing
        • Funding for Indigenous housing
        • National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
      • Mortgage loan insurance
        • Homeowner and small rental mortgage loan insurance
        • Multi-unit mortgage loan insurance
        • Default, claims and properties for sale
        • Underwriting centre
        • emili
        • NHA approved lenders
        • Calculating GDS / TDS
        • Mortgage fraud
        • Contact mortgage loan insurance
        • Insured mortgage purchase program (IMPP)
        • Consumer Survey Results
        • COVID-19: CECRA for small businesses
        • Client e-update
        • Multi-unit e-update
      • Securitization
        • NHA Mortgage Backed Securities
        • Canada Mortgage Bonds
        • Canadian registered covered bonds
        • Blockchain in the housing industry
    • Housing markets, data and research
      • Housing markets
        • CMHC Reports Calendar
        • Housing market reports
        • Mortgage market and consumer reports
        • Rental Market Report
        • Housing Market Information Portal
        • CMHC Library
        • Housing in Canada Online (HiCO)
      • Housing research
        • Housing research reports
        • Housing surveys
        • Research awards and scholarships
        • Understanding core housing need
        • CMHC Library
        • Housing market information portal
        • Housing in Canada Online (HiCO)
        • Collaborative Housing Research Network
      • Housing data
        • Data tables
          • Housing market indicators
          • Mortgage and Debt Data
        • CMHC Library
        • Housing in Canada Online (HiCO)
        • CMHC licence agreement for the use of data
        • Housing market information portal
    • Industry innovation and leadership
      • Housing innovation
      • Partnerships
      • Industry collaboration
      • Industry expertise
        • Affordable housing
        • Indigenous housing
        • Senior housing
        • Accessible and adaptable housing
        • Developing sustainable housing
        • Resources for mortgage professionals
        • CMHC e-newsletters
    • Events and speakers
      • Conferences
      • Speakers’ bureau
  • Consumers
    • Buying a home
      • Homebuying calculators
        • Mortgage calculator
        • Affordability calculator
        • Debt service calculator
      • Buying guides
        • Homebuying step by step
        • CMHC's condominium buyer's guide
      • Mortgage loan insurance for consumers
        • What is CMHC mortgage loan insurance?
        • Do I qualify for mortgage loan insurance?
        • CMHC mortgage loan insurance costs
        • CMHC Green Home
        • CMHC — home renovation financing options
        • FAQs — mortgage loan insurance
        • COVID-19: understanding mortgage payment deferral
      • First-time home buyer incentive
      • Incentives for homebuyers
      • Newcomers
    • Owning a home
      • Manage your mortgage
        • Mortgage fraud
        • Mortgage planning tips
        • Plan and manage your mortgage
        • Your credit report
        • Your home value
      • Aging in place
        • Housing options for Seniors
        • Housing and finance tips
        • Mortgage financing options for people 55+
        • Preventing fraud and financial abuse
    • Renting a home
      • I want to rent
        • Things to consider before renting
        • Types of housing for rent in Canada
        • Finding or advertising a rental property
        • Visiting the rental property
        • Lease and rental agreements
        • Signing the lease
        • Credit checks and bad credit
        • Rental payments and deposits
        • Roommates and pets
      • I am renting
        • Moving day
        • Landlord/Tenant responsibilities
        • Inspections
        • Maintenance and repairs
        • Complaints and evictions
        • Rent increases
        • When you can't pay rent
        • Renewing or terminating the lease
        • Moving out
      • COVID-19: eviction bans and suspensions to support renters
  • About CMHC
    • CMHC’s Story
    • Management and governance
      • Speakers’ bureau
      • Annual public meeting
      • Board of directors and committees
      • Our management committee
      • Pension governance
        • Pension overview
        • Key roles and responsibilities
        • Annual reports
    • Corporate reporting
      • CMHC annual report
      • Program evaluation
      • Quarterly financial reports
      • Joint auditors special examination report to CMHC board 2018
      • CMHC’s Insured Mortgage Deferral
      • Summary of the corporate plan
      • Transparency
        • Access to information and privacy protection
        • Briefing materials
        • Procurement
        • Travel, hospitality and conference expenditures
    • Contact us
      • CMHC departments
        • Connect with a housing solutions specialist – multi-unit
        • Contact mortgage loan insurance
      • Granville lsland
      • Media relations
      • National office
      • Regional offices
      • Holiday service hours
    • Careers
  • Media Newsroom
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates
    • Media relations
  • National Housing Strategy
    • What is the strategy?
      • About the initiatives
      • How to apply
      • Help and resources
      • Priority areas for action
      • Glossary
    • Federal/Provincial/Territorial housing agreements
    • Other funding and financing opportunities
  • The Housing Observer
  • Careers
  • CMHC Library
 
  • Home
  • Consumers
  • Renting a home
  • I want to rent
  • Signing the lease
  • Save page to My Folder
    Save
  • Share this page
    Share
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Signing the lease

SAVE
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Save Icon

SAVE TO MY FOLDER

Signing the lease

Done Done!
Close this Window   |   Manage my Folder
Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter
  • print
Share icon

Share via

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Twitter
  • print
share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Did You Know?

You can include an email signature?

Register | Sign In

×
Google Captcha Loader
share icon

Mail-blue Share via Email

Done Done!
Close this window

Signing the lease

Guide: I want to rent

  • I want to rent
  • Things to consider before renting
  • Types of housing for rent in Canada
  • Finding or advertising a rental property
  • Visiting the rental property
  • Lease and rental agreements
  • Signing the lease
  • Credit checks and bad credit
  • Rental payments and deposits
  • Roommates and pets

A lease should always outline the:

  • terms
  • conditions, and
  • duration

of the rental agreement.

It is important to review all 3 before signing.

Some leases may contain unexpected requirements.

It is important to consult a lawyer before signing if you do not understand everything in the lease, or if you are creating a lease that you want customized to your terms.

The lease should stipulate the following:

  • The names of the landlord and tenant(s)
  • The address of the rental property
  • The agreed-upon monthly rent, with or without utilities, parking, cable, etc.
  • When rent is due each month
  • The amount and terms of the deposit (if applicable)
  • Which repairs are your responsibility if requested by the landlord
  • The term of the rental period, typically one year (but may be month-to-month or week-to-week)
  • The notice period required to terminate the lease (usually this is 60 days)
  • Subletting rules
  • Allowable rent increases
  • Restrictions such as no boarders, pets, smoking, waterbeds, etc.
  • When and how a landlord can enter the residential premises
  • Conditions for termination of a lease
  • Terms for dispute resolution: late payment, damage and repairs, eviction, etc.
  • Emergency contact information for both the tenant and landlord (including phone, fax and email)

If you are sharing accommodations, consider the following:

  • The person or persons who sign(s) the lease is/are legally responsible for any other roommates.
  • If 2 or more tenants sign the lease, they are responsible for paying the whole rent, and the landlord can enforce the terms against either person or both people
  • If each person has a separate lease, that individual is only responsible for what is contained in theirs.
Previous Lease and rental agreements Next Credit checks and bad credit

Was this page relevant to your needs?

Thank you for your feedback!

Sorry to hear that! Can you tell us about the problem?

Google Captcha Loader

For further assistance, pleasecontact us

ThanksYour feedback has been submitted.

Date Published: March 31, 2018
By Topic
  • Professionals
  • Project funding and mortgage financing
  • Housing markets data and research
  • Industry innovation and leadership
  • Events and speakers
  • Consumers
  • Home buying
  • Owning a home
  • Renting a home
About Us
  • CMHC's Story
  • Management and Governance
  • Partnerships
  • Corporate Reporting
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
More
  • CMHC e-Newsletters
  • CMHC Library
  • Housing Observer Online
  • Media Newsroom
  • CMHC on Twitter
  • CMHC on LinkedIn
  • CMHC on Facebook
  • CMHC on Instagram
  • CMHC on YouTube
Privacy Policy    |    Terms and Conditions    |    Transparency     Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) ©2021 
Canada
loader icon