Standard lease
Most rental agreements made on or after April 30, 2018, must be in writing on the government’s standard lease form. To get the form, search for “standard lease” at forms.mgcs.gov.on.ca.
Landlords and tenants cannot change or cross out any parts of the form. They can only fill in blanks and checkboxes. They can also add terms if the terms do not go against the law or anything else on the form.
Before you sign a rental agreement, you should read the “Additional Terms” section carefully. The additional terms will be on separate pages, attached to the standard lease form. You do not have to agree to any additional terms unless you want to. If your landlord adds a term to your lease after you have signed it, it is not part of your agreement.
If a landlord does not use the standard lease
Some types of rentals do not have to use the standard lease form. For example, public or subsidized housing and housing co-ops do not use the standard lease. A standard lease also is not required for sublets or for landlords who share a kitchen or bathroom with a tenant. But most rental housing must use the standard lease.
If you started renting on or after April 30, 2018, and you did not get a standard lease, you can write to the landlord and ask them for one.
After you ask for a standard lease
After you ask in writing, your landlord must give you a standard lease to sign within 21 days. If they do not give you a standard lease, you can hold back one month’s rent. If they then give you the lease within 30 days after you held back rent, you must pay the money back. If they do not give you the lease, you can keep it. But you cannot hold back more than one month’s rent, even if the landlord never gives you a standard lease.
Your right to move out
After you ask for a standard lease, you also get the right to move out on 60 days’ notice. You can do this even if you agreed to a fixed term, like one year. You can give this notice within 30 days after your landlord gives you the standard lease. Or if 21 days have passed but they have not given the lease to you.
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