Toronto rental scam and how to avoid being caught up

The CMHC has some good information that tenants need to know about what should be included in your lease. Here is, at minimum, what should be included in any agreement you sign with your landlord:

• 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;
• when the rent is due, for example, on the first day of each month;
• the amount and terms of the deposit, if applicable;
• which repairs are your responsibility and your obligation to do repairs at the request of the landlord;
• the term of rental period, typically one-year, (month-to-month, or week-to-week);
• the notice period that the tenant is required to give when terminating a tenancy, such as, 60 days notice to terminate;
• the amount of the (security or damage deposits), if applicable;
• subletting rules;
• allowable rent increases;
• specific restrictions, such as no boarders, pets, smoking, waterbeds;
• 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;
• emergency contact information for tenant and landlord (include phone, fax and email)

With a document signed by you, the renter, and the landlord, both parties have an agreement in pace that will hold up if problems arise. In the case of serious problems, the landlord or tenant can contact the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario, or for more information about your rights, you can check out the Residential Tenancies Act.