Updated: April 2026
By Françoise Pollard, Realtor®, and Keith Goldson, Broker, Keith & Françoise Real Estate Team, eXp Realty Brokerage. We help landlords, tenants, and corporate relocators with leasing in Ontario across the GTA and Niagara Region, including Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Etobicoke, Toronto, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, and Thorold.
Leasing in Ontario is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act and enforced through the Landlord and Tenant Board. Landlords must use the Ontario Standard Lease, can only collect first and last month’s rent as a deposit, and must give 90 days’ written notice before any rent increase. For 2026, the rent increase guideline is 2.1%, the lowest cap in four years. Whether you’re renting out a property or searching for a rental across the GTA or Niagara Region, knowing the rules before you sign protects you from costly mistakes on either side of the lease.
Start here
WHAT’S YOUR SITUATION?
I Own a Property and I’m Thinking of Renting It Out
Start with the rent-vs-sell decision, then move through pricing, documents, and tenant screening. Getting those four steps right before you list protects you from the most expensive landlord mistakes.
Start with: Should You Rent or Sell? →I’m Already a Landlord and Something Has Gone Wrong
Tenant stopped paying, notice was served incorrectly, or you’re dealing with an N12 or N13 dispute. The risks section and LTB section cover the scenarios landlords most often get wrong, and what the legal process actually looks like.
Start with: What Can Go Wrong →I’m a Tenant Looking for a Rental in the GTA or Niagara
Know your rights before you sign. The screening section tells you what landlords can and can’t ask. The lease section tells you what you’re agreeing to. The market section tells you what to expect on price and availability right now.
Start with: How Tenant Screening Works →I’m Relocating to the GTA or Niagara Region for Work
Corporate relocators and newcomers face specific challenges: no local rental history, short notice periods, furnished unit availability, and condo board restrictions. The market conditions section covers current availability in both regions.
Start with: GTA and Niagara Market Conditions →Should You Rent Your Property or Sell It?
Leasing in Ontario is not just a transaction. It is a regulated process governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, where small mistakes lead to costly legal consequences. What actually matters in leasing in Ontario is understanding how the RTA shapes every decision before you make it, from pricing to screening to ending a tenancy.
This is the first decision, and it deserves a straight answer. Renting keeps the asset and generates monthly income. Selling converts equity to cash, removes all landlord obligations, and puts you outside the Residential Tenancies Act entirely. Neither is automatically better. The right call depends on your numbers, your timeline, and whether you are genuinely prepared for what the RTA requires of landlords.
When Leasing Makes Sense
Renting works when the income clears your carrying costs, when you have a long hold strategy, or when you plan to return to the property. If you’re relocating temporarily, holding while waiting for better market conditions, or building a rental portfolio, keeping the asset makes sense. In markets like downtown Toronto, Oakville, and St. Catharines, a well-priced unit in good condition leases consistently.
Run the actual numbers before committing. Mortgage payments, property taxes, condo fees, landlord insurance, and maintenance reserves all reduce your net. Many landlords discover their monthly cashflow is smaller than expected once carrying costs are properly accounted for.
When Selling Makes More Sense
Sell when the rental income won’t cover costs, when you need the equity, or when you are not ready to be a landlord under Ontario law. The RTA heavily favours tenants. Once a tenancy begins, ending it requires specific legal grounds, correct notice procedures, and often significant time. If that reality doesn’t work for your situation, selling is the cleaner path.
When to Walk Away from Leasing Entirely
Walk away if you cannot afford carrying costs through a worst-case LTB timeline, if the property needs repairs you cannot fund while it’s tenanted, or if you’re relying on a quick sale within 12 months. Ontario law does not make it easy to sell a tenanted property on short notice, and an N12 for personal use carries its own legal requirements and risks. For a full picture of what selling a tenanted property involves, see our guide on selling a tenanted property in Ontario.
Once you’ve made the decision to rent, the next step is making sure the property is ready before a single applicant walks through the door.
How Do You Prepare Your Property to Rent?
Preparing your property for a rental listing is different from preparing it for a sale. The standard is still high, but the goal is to attract a long-term tenant who will care for the unit, pay rent on time, and stay. First impressions still matter at every price point.
Condition and Required Repairs
Under the RTA, landlords must maintain a rental unit in a good state of repair. This obligation applies from day one. A lease cannot contract it away. Before listing, address any known maintenance issues: appliances that don’t work properly, fixtures that need replacing, HVAC systems that haven’t been serviced, or anything that would fail a basic habitability standard. Tenants can file maintenance complaints at the LTB, and an unresolved repair issue can quickly become a legal dispute.
A freshly painted unit in neutral tones, clean and functional appliances, and working locks on all doors and windows will rent faster and attract stronger applicants than a unit shown in deferred condition.
What You Are Required to Provide
Landlords must provide working heating to a minimum of 20 degrees Celsius from September 1 through June 15. Landlords must supply hot and cold running water. If the unit includes laundry facilities, the landlord must keep them in working order. Landlords must install working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. If the unit is a condominium, you’ll also need to comply with the condo corporation’s rules, which may restrict certain uses or modifications. For more on renting a condo specifically, see our guide on renting a condo in Ontario.
With the property in good condition, the next decision is setting a price that reflects the current market, not the market you remember from 18 months ago.
How Do You Price a Rental in Today’s Market?
Pricing a rental correctly matters more now than it did three years ago. According to CMHC’s 2025 Rental Market Report, the GTA’s purpose-built rental vacancy rate rose as new supply entered the market, and advertised asking rents in Toronto declined between 2% and 8% in early 2025 compared to the prior year. Units are taking longer to lease. Overpricing leads to vacancy, which costs more than a moderate rent reduction would have.
How to Research Rental Pricing
Check active listings for comparable units in the same building or neighbourhood, not asking prices from six months ago. Look at unit size, included parking, whether utilities are included, and how long listings have been sitting. A two-bedroom in downtown Toronto currently runs differently than a two-bedroom in St. Catharines or Welland. Know your specific market before setting a number.
For units first occupied before November 15, 2018, you’re also setting a base rent that future increases will be calculated against. Set it at market rate, not above, because the annual rent increase guideline limits how much you can grow it from there.
Units Exempt from Rent Control
Rental units first occupied for residential purposes after November 15, 2018, are exempt from Ontario’s rent control provisions. Landlords of these units can raise rent by any amount between tenancies, with proper 90-day notice. This distinction significantly affects the long-term value of a rental property and your flexibility as an investor. Know which side of that date your property falls on before making pricing or investment decisions.
Want to Know What Your Property Would Realistically Rent for Right Now?
We price rentals across the GTA and Niagara Region based on current market data, not asking prices from six months ago. Get a straight number before you commit to listing.
Get Your Rental Price StrategyRent Increases and Rent Control in Ontario
Ontario’s rent increase guideline is the maximum percentage most landlords can raise rent in a given year without Landlord and Tenant Board approval. For 2026, that guideline is 2.1%, the lowest cap in four years, down from 2.5% in 2025.
Who Rent Control Applies To
The guideline applies to most private residential rental units first occupied on or before November 15, 2018. Units first occupied after that date are exempt. Landlords of those properties can raise rent by any amount between tenancies, or within a tenancy with required 90-day written notice. This exemption created a significant divide in the Ontario rental market.
How to Apply a Legal Rent Increase
A rent increase requires a minimum of 90 days’ written notice using Form N1 from the LTB. A text message, email, or verbal notice is not valid unless the tenant agreed in writing to electronic service. Rent can only increase once in any 12-month period. Tenants can apply to the LTB to reverse an illegal increase.
Above-Guideline Increases
Landlords can apply to the LTB for permission to raise rent above the annual guideline in specific circumstances: major capital repairs such as roof replacement or plumbing upgrades, significant increases in municipal taxes, or security service costs. Ontario calls these Above-Guideline Increases. Under Ontario’s Protecting Renters from Unfair Above Guideline Rent Increases Act, 2025, landlords must now provide additional engineering reports and evidence with capital expenditure applications, and the LTB must consider the financial impact on affected tenants before approving.
What Documents Do You Need Before Listing Your Rental?
Ontario landlords are legally required to use the Ontario Standard Lease for most residential tenancies. Ontario introduced the standard form in 2018. It covers single and semi-detached houses, apartment units, condominiums, and secondary suites. If you rent to a tenant after April 30, 2018, without using the standard form, the tenant can demand it in writing. You then have 21 days to provide it, or they can legally withhold one month’s rent until it’s delivered.
What the Standard Lease Covers
The Ontario Standard Lease sets out the rent amount, rent payment date, deposit information, and the rules for rent increases. It also includes an additional terms section where landlords can include specific rules about parking, smoking, or pets. Not all additional terms are enforceable. Terms that conflict with the RTA are void regardless of whether the tenant signed. For a breakdown of which clauses hold up at the LTB, see our guide on Ontario lease clauses that hold up at the LTB. For a list of unenforceable clauses, see illegal lease clauses in Ontario.
Deposits: What Is Legal and What Is Not
Ontario landlords can collect a last month’s rent deposit equal to one month’s rent, which must be applied to the final month of the tenancy. A key deposit is also permitted, limited to the actual replacement cost of the key. That is it. Damage deposits, cleaning fees, pet deposits, and non-refundable application fees are all illegal under the RTA. Collecting any of them violates the Act. Tenants can challenge illegal deposits at the LTB.
Documents to Prepare Before Listing
Before advertising your rental, assemble: the completed Ontario Standard Lease (available at Ontario.ca), current condo rules and bylaws if applicable, a landlord insurance certificate, and a clear outline of which utilities are included and which are not. Many landlords also prepare a move-in inspection checklist before handing over keys. This protects both parties if a damage dispute arises at the end of the tenancy.
How Do You Screen Tenants Legally in Ontario?
Ontario landlords can request a credit check, proof of income, and references from previous landlords before signing a lease. They cannot ask about race, religion, family status, disability, or receipt of public assistance. The Ontario Human Rights Code governs what information a landlord can collect and how they can use it, and violations can result in a Human Rights Tribunal complaint regardless of intent.
What Landlords Can Legally Request
Landlords can request a completed rental application with contact information, employment details, and income verification. Landlords can run a credit check with the applicant’s written consent. References from previous landlords are standard and allowed. Recent pay stubs, a letter of employment, or a CRA Notice of Assessment are all acceptable income verification methods.
What the Human Rights Code Prohibits
Landlords cannot ask about, or make decisions based on, any of the 17 protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code. These include race, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, and receipt of public assistance. A landlord who refuses an applicant because they receive ODSP or Ontario Works is violating the Code. So is a landlord who refuses a family because of the number of children, or who requires specifically Canadian rental references in a way that disadvantages newcomers.
For a full breakdown of the legal screening process, what credit checks show, and how to build a competitive rental application as a tenant, see our detailed guide on tenant screening in Ontario.
Tenant Screening Checklist
A legally sound screening process covers all of the following: written rental application, credit check with signed consent, two to three recent pay stubs or equivalent income proof, contact information for two previous landlords, employment confirmation, and government-issued ID for identity verification. Assess credit and income together alongside rental history. No single factor should automatically disqualify an applicant, and any automatic disqualification based on a protected ground is a Human Rights Code violation.
We’ve Seen This Play Out
We had a landlord client in Mississauga who rejected an applicant because her income came from ODSP and didn’t meet his informal three-times-rent rule. The applicant had excellent credit and strong references from two previous landlords. The landlord thought he was managing financial risk. Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, he was actually at risk of a complaint. We walked him through assessing the full application rather than applying a rigid income threshold, and he found a strong long-term tenant within two weeks.
We’ve also seen it from the tenant side. A client relocating from Toronto to St. Catharines had a thin credit file because she’d been a homeowner for 12 years and hadn’t carried a credit card or car loan in that time. On paper, the file looked weak. We helped her prepare a full application package with her CRA Notice of Assessment, an employment letter, and references from her previous condo property manager. She got the unit she wanted. The package made the difference.
How Do Lease Offers Work in Ontario?
A residential lease in Ontario becomes binding as soon as both parties sign the Ontario Standard Lease. There is no cooling-off period. The landlord must provide a signed copy to the tenant within 21 days, and both parties should complete a unit inspection checklist at move-in to document the property’s condition before the tenancy begins.
What Happens After You Accept an Offer
After a lease is signed, the landlord must provide a signed copy to the tenant within 21 days. At move-in, both parties should complete a unit inspection checklist. This documents the property’s condition before the tenancy begins and is one of the most overlooked steps in the leasing process. It’s also one of the most valuable pieces of evidence if a damage dispute arises at the end of the tenancy.
The landlord must also provide their contact information for service of notices and inform the tenant of any known defects in the unit. Concealing a known issue before signing does not protect the landlord from their repair obligations once the tenancy begins.
Last Month’s Deposit and Annual Interest
The last month’s rent deposit must go toward the final month of the tenancy. Landlords are also required to pay interest on this deposit annually, calculated at the rent increase guideline rate for that year. In 2026, that rate is 2.1%. When the deposit covers the last month, return any unpaid accumulated interest to the tenant.
What Are Your Obligations as a Landlord After Move-In?
Ontario landlords must maintain the rental unit in a good state of repair throughout the tenancy. Specifically, this means providing minimum heat of 20 degrees Celsius from September 1 through June 15, ensuring smoke and carbon monoxide detectors work, addressing pest infestations promptly, and responding to repair requests. These obligations exist regardless of what the lease says. The tenant’s prior written agreement does not remove them.
Maintenance and Repairs
Tenants can file a maintenance application at the LTB if a landlord fails to address repair requests. The LTB can order repairs, issue rent abatements, or both. For a full breakdown, see our guide on tenant rights and landlord obligations in Ontario.
Entry Rules and Tenant Privacy
A landlord cannot enter a rental unit without proper notice except in an emergency. In most situations, at least 24 hours’ written notice is required, and entry must occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. The RTA defines permitted entry reasons: repairs, inspections, or showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers. A lease clause expanding these rights is void. See our guide on landlord access and showing rules in Ontario for full details on notice requirements and tenant rights during showings.
What Can Go Wrong When You Rent Your Property?
The most common landlord mistakes in Ontario are collecting an illegal deposit, using an unenforceable lease clause, and screening applicants in a way that violates the Human Rights Code. Failing to give proper notice before entry or a rent increase, and skipping the move-in inspection, round out the list. Any one of these can trigger an LTB application. Defending one costs time and money regardless of the outcome.
Common Mistakes Landlords Make
The most common errors are using an unenforceable lease clause, collecting an illegal deposit, applying discriminatory screening criteria, giving improper notice for rent increases or entry, and skipping the move-in inspection checklist. Each one can result in an LTB application. Defending one costs time and money regardless of the outcome.
What Happens If a Tenant Stops Paying Rent
If a tenant stops paying rent, the landlord’s first legal step is serving an N4 notice (Notice to End Tenancy for Non-payment of Rent). The N4 gives the tenant 14 days to pay in full or vacate. If neither happens, the landlord can apply to the LTB for an eviction order. LTB processing times are currently subject to significant backlog, and the process from initial non-payment to a final order can take several months. This is one of the real financial risks of being a landlord in Ontario, and it’s one reason thorough upfront screening is not optional. For a full breakdown of how tenancies end under the RTA, including mutual agreements, N9 and N11 forms, and what happens when a tenant overstays, see our guide on how residential leases end in Ontario.
Renovictions and N13 Notices
A landlord can serve an N13 notice if they intend to demolish, convert, or undertake repairs extensive enough to require the unit to be vacant. This is a legitimate legal process, though landlords have misused it. Issuing an N13 in bad faith, without genuine intent to renovate, is a violation of the RTA and can result in significant penalties. Tenants served with an N13 have rights: they can dispute the notice at the LTB and have first right of refusal to return to the unit at the same rent once renovations are complete.
N12 Notices: Own Use and Family Use
An N12 notice allows a landlord to end a tenancy because the landlord, a family member, or a purchaser of the property intends to move in. The landlord must compensate the tenant with one month’s rent and must give 60 days’ notice. Misusing an N12 is treated as a bad faith eviction and carries serious consequences, including a potential order of up to 12 months’ rent as compensation to the displaced tenant. For a full explanation of requirements and tenant protections, see our guide on N12 notices in Ontario.
The Landlord and Tenant Board: What You Need to Know
The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) is Ontario’s administrative tribunal where landlords and tenants resolve disputes under the Residential Tenancies Act. Either party can file. Landlords most commonly apply for eviction orders due to non-payment of rent, damage, or interference with reasonable enjoyment. Tenants most commonly file over maintenance failures, illegal rent increases, or unlawful entry. The LTB is currently operating under significant case backlog, and hearing timelines vary considerably by region and application type.
Current LTB Conditions
The LTB has operated under significant backlog for several years. Hearing timelines remain long in many parts of the province, and filing an application does not guarantee a quick resolution. We do not estimate timelines because they vary by region, application type, and whether the hearing is contested. Consult the Landlord and Tenant Board directly or speak with a licensed paralegal for current information.
When to Work with a Paralegal
For any LTB matter involving a hearing, we recommend a licensed paralegal who practises landlord-tenant law. The rules of evidence and procedure at the LTB are specific, and appearing without preparation puts you at a real disadvantage. A qualified paralegal can assess the strength of your application, prepare the correct forms, and represent you at the hearing.
GTA and Niagara Rental Markets: What Leasing in Ontario Looks Like Right Now
Understanding your local market before listing a rental, or starting a rental search, gives you a realistic foundation for pricing and timing decisions.
GTA Rental Market in 2025 and 2026
The GTA rental market softened noticeably through 2025. According to CMHC’s 2025 Rental Market Report, new purpose-built rental supply continued to enter the market, and advertised asking rents in Toronto declined between 2% and 8% in early 2025 compared to the same period a year earlier. Vacancy rates rose in areas near post-secondary institutions, with some Mississauga and Brampton neighbourhoods seeing rates climb above 4%. Old Toronto remained more stable, supported by return-to-office mandates drawing renters closer to the core.
For tenants, this shift creates more choice and more negotiating room than existed in 2022 or 2023. For landlords, accurate pricing and a well-presented unit now matter more than they did when every listing received dozens of applications in a weekend.
Niagara Region Rental Market
St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, and Welland continue to attract renters priced out of the GTA. Rental demand from corporate relocation, newcomers, and households transitioning out of GTA homeownership remains active. Rental supply in the Niagara Region is less abundant than in much of the GTA, and vacancy rates remain lower. A well-priced two-bedroom in St. Catharines or Thorold typically leases faster than a comparable unit in parts of Etobicoke or North York right now.
For corporate relocators and newcomers, Niagara offers significantly more value per square foot than comparable GTA rentals at the same monthly price. Our team works with HR professionals and relocation management companies to help employees transitioning into the region find suitable long-term rentals efficiently. If you’re looking at Cherry House (432 Cherry Street, Toronto) or another urban rental as part of a corporate relocation, see our leasing contact page to discuss your options.
What This Means for Your Leasing Strategy in Ontario
The biggest mistakes in leasing in Ontario are not made out of bad intentions. They come from moving too fast, skipping steps, or not knowing what the RTA actually requires. A landlord who collects a damage deposit on day one, or a tenant who signs a lease without reading the additional terms, is not acting in bad faith. They simply did not know the rules before they needed them.
Process matters more than speed here. The landlord who takes two extra weeks to price correctly, prepare documentation, and run a thorough tenant screening will nearly always outperform the one who listed quickly and hoped for the best. The tenant who reads the lease carefully, understands what clauses are enforceable, and prepares a complete application package will get a better unit on better terms.
Every decision in a tenancy, from the first showing to the final move-out, is shaped by legislation that does not bend based on what the lease says or what the parties agreed to informally. Getting the fundamentals right from the start is not just good practice. Under Ontario law, it is the only way to protect yourself on either side of the rental agreement.
Related Guides in This Leasing Series
Each of the following guides goes deeper on a specific part of the Ontario leasing process. Together they cover everything a landlord or tenant needs to operate legally and effectively in this province.
- Tenant Screening in Ontario: Credit checks, income verification, Human Rights Code obligations, and how to build a strong rental application.
- Tenant Rights and Landlord Obligations: Maintenance standards, heat requirements, and what landlords must provide throughout a tenancy.
- Landlord Access and Showing Rules: Notice requirements, permitted reasons for entry, and how to handle showings while a tenant is in place.
- Renting a Condo in Ontario: Condo-specific rules, board restrictions, and how condo corporation bylaws affect your tenancy.
- How Leases End in Ontario: Proper notice requirements, N9 and N11 forms, mutual agreement, and what happens when a tenant stays past notice.
- N12 Notices in Ontario: Own-use and family-use evictions, tenant compensation, and bad faith consequences.
- Selling a Tenanted Property: How a tenancy affects the sale, buyer rights, and what sellers need to disclose and arrange.
- Ontario Lease Clauses That Hold Up at the LTB: Which additional lease terms are enforceable and which are routinely set aside.
- Illegal Lease Clauses in Ontario: Common clauses landlords add that the RTA voids, including damage deposits, no-pet rules, and maintenance-waiver language.
Leasing in Ontario: Your Questions Answered
Should I rent my property or sell it in Ontario?
The right answer depends on your financial position, your timeline, and your appetite for the landlord role. Renting keeps the asset and generates income, but it subjects you to the Residential Tenancies Act, which strongly favours tenants. Selling converts equity to cash and removes ongoing obligations. Run the actual numbers, including carrying costs, property taxes, and property management if applicable, before deciding. If you’re not prepared for what Ontario’s tenancy laws require of a landlord, selling is often the cleaner option.
What is the Ontario rent increase guideline for 2026?
The rent increase guideline for 2026 is 2.1%, the lowest cap in four years, down from 2.5% in 2025. This is the maximum most landlords can raise rent during the year without LTB approval. It applies to rental units first occupied on or before November 15, 2018. Units first occupied after that date are exempt from rent control, and landlords can raise rent by any amount between tenancies with proper 90-day written notice using Form N1.
Can a landlord in Ontario refuse to rent to someone on ODSP or Ontario Works?
No. Receipt of public assistance is a protected ground under the Ontario Human Rights Code. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to someone because they receive ODSP, Ontario Works, or any other government assistance. Doing so is discriminatory and can result in a complaint to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. Landlords must assess all applicants based on their full application, including credit history, rental references, and income information considered together.
What deposits can a landlord legally collect in Ontario?
Ontario landlords can collect a last month’s rent deposit equal to one month’s rent, plus a key deposit limited to the actual replacement cost of the key. Damage deposits, cleaning fees, pet deposits, and non-refundable application fees are all illegal under the Residential Tenancies Act. A tenant can file a complaint at the LTB if a landlord collects any of these.
What happens if a tenant stops paying rent in Ontario?
If a tenant stops paying rent, the landlord’s first legal step is serving an N4 notice (Notice to End Tenancy for Non-payment of Rent), which gives the tenant 14 days to pay in full or vacate. If neither happens, the landlord can apply to the LTB for an eviction order. LTB processing times are currently subject to significant backlog, and the process from initial non-payment to a final eviction order can take several months. Thorough tenant screening before signing a lease is the most effective way to avoid this situation.
Is a no-pets clause in an Ontario lease enforceable?
In most residential tenancies governed by the RTA, a no-pets clause is not enforceable. A landlord generally cannot refuse to rent to someone because they have pets, and cannot evict a tenant for having one, unless the animal is causing damage, allergic reactions in other tenants, or safety concerns. The exception is condominiums, where the condo corporation’s declaration may prohibit pets, and that restriction takes precedence over the RTA’s general rule.
How much notice does a landlord need to give before entering a rental unit?
A landlord must give at least 24 hours’ written notice before entering a rental unit, and entry must occur between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Entry without notice is only permitted in a genuine emergency. The notice must specify the reason for entry, which must fall within the reasons permitted by the RTA: repairs, inspections, or showing the unit to prospective tenants or buyers. A lease clause attempting to expand these rights is void.
What is the Ontario Standard Lease and do I have to use it?
The Ontario Standard Lease is a mandatory residential lease form required for most tenancies signed after April 30, 2018. It covers rent, deposit terms, rent increase rules, and additional terms. If a landlord doesn’t use the standard form when required, the tenant can demand it in writing and the landlord has 21 days to provide it. If not delivered, the tenant may legally withhold one month’s rent until it arrives. Any additional term in the lease that conflicts with the RTA is void, regardless of whether both parties signed.
Keith & Francoise Real Estate Team
eXp Realty Brokerage · GTA & Niagara Region
Francoise Pollard, Realtor, and Keith Goldson, Broker, work with landlords and tenants across the Greater Toronto Area and Niagara Region. Our team handles the full leasing process: pricing, marketing, tenant screening, lease review, and compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act. We serve clients in Brampton, Mississauga, Toronto, Hamilton, Burlington, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, and surrounding communities. Leasing is a core part of what we do, not a sideline. We track every change to the RTA and LTB: the 2026 rent increase guideline drop to 2.1%, the new AGI evidence requirements under the Protecting Renters from Unfair Above Guideline Rent Increases Act, 2025, and current LTB hearing conditions are all reflected in this guide because our clients depend on current information, not last year’s rules.
Ontario landlord and tenant law can change. This article reflects legislation and procedures as of April 2026 and is for general informational purposes only. The 2026 rent increase guideline and LTB processes referenced here reflect information verified at the time of publication. Confirm current rules and obligations with a qualified legal professional before making decisions.