Renting a Condo in Ontario: Lease Rules, Bylaws, and What Tenants Miss

Updated: October 2026

By Françoise Pollard, Realtor®, and Keith Goldson, Broker, Keith & Françoise Real Estate Team, eXp Realty Brokerage. We help condo owners across the GTA and Niagara Region rent their units with confidence, including in Mississauga, Brampton, Milton, Burlington, Oakville, Hamilton, Etobicoke, Toronto, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, and Thorold.

Renting a condo is not the same as renting a house. Provincial law, your condo’s declaration, its bylaws, and its rules all apply to your unit at the same time. Most condo landlord problems start when an owner overlooks one of those layers. We work with condo owners across Mississauga, Toronto, Etobicoke, Burlington, and St. Catharines who want to lease their units, and this guide covers what to check before you sign a lease.

Can You Legally Rent Out a Condo in Ontario?

Yes, Ontario condo owners have the legal right to rent out their units. The Condominium Act, 1998 does not prohibit leasing, and the Residential Tenancies Act protects tenants in condo units the same way it protects tenants in any other rental property. However, your condo corporation’s declaration, bylaws, and rules can impose conditions on how you lease your unit.

This is where most condo landlords run into trouble. The province says you can rent, but your condo’s governing documents may set minimum lease terms, require tenant registration forms, or restrict short-term rentals entirely. Valid restrictions carry legal weight, and breaching them can lead to compliance orders and costs charged back to your unit.

What the Residential Tenancies Act Covers

Once a tenant moves into your condo unit, the RTA generally applies to the tenancy, as it does to most residential rentals in Ontario. Some arrangements are exempt. One example: the tenant must share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner or certain close family members living there. The annual rent increase guideline applies to most units, but units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are generally exempt. The guideline is 2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027. Your tenant also has the right to proper maintenance, 24 hours’ written notice before most entries, and protection from illegal eviction.

Your tenant does not sign anything with the condo corporation, but the Condominium Act still applies to them. Tenants must follow the Act and the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules. As the owner, you must take all reasonable steps to make sure they do. If your tenant breaches the rules, the corporation can take enforcement steps against you, your tenant, or both. For a full breakdown of landlord and tenant rights in Ontario, see our guide to tenant rights and landlord obligations.

What Condo Rules Can Restrict Renting a Condo in Ontario?

Condo corporations in Ontario can place conditions on rentals through the declaration, bylaws, and rules. The declaration carries the most weight because it is registered on title and binds all owners. Bylaws must align with the declaration, and rules must align with both. Whether a particular restriction is valid and enforceable depends on its wording, which document it appears in, how it was adopted, and the applicable law. Have a lawyer review any restriction that affects your plans.

Common Rental Restrictions in Ontario Condos

Many condo corporations in the GTA set minimum lease terms of six months or one year. Some buildings ask tenants to complete a registration or move-in form with the property management company. Some declarations also limit how many units in the building can be leased at the same time.

Short-term rental restrictions are increasingly common. Condos in Toronto, Mississauga, and other GTA municipalities frequently prohibit Airbnb-style rentals through their declarations or rules. The City of Toronto allows short-term rentals only in the operator’s principal residence. Entire-unit rentals are capped at 180 nights per calendar year. Partial-unit rentals, where the operator rents rooms in the home they live in, have no night limit. Operators must register with the City and are responsible for collecting and remitting the Municipal Accommodation Tax. Other GTA and Niagara municipalities may have their own licensing rules, so check with your city as well.

How Restrictions Are Enforced

When an owner or tenant breaches rental restrictions, the board typically starts with a written notice. If that does not resolve it, disputes about the declaration, bylaws, or rules generally go through mediation and arbitration under the Condominium Act. The corporation can then ask the Superior Court of Justice for a compliance order. The Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT) does not hear short-term rental disputes, although it can hear related issues such as noise, pets, parking, and vehicles.

Depending on the declaration and the outcome of the dispute, the corporation may be able to charge its legal and enforcement costs back to the unit owner.

Can a Condo Board Reject a Tenant?

In most cases, no. Choosing a tenant is the owner’s decision, not the board’s. The Condominium Act requires owners to notify the corporation after signing a lease. It does not give the board a general right to approve or reject the people you rent to.

Some buildings do have registration forms, move-in bookings, or other procedures for new tenants, and some declarations contain leasing conditions such as minimum lease terms. If management tells you a tenant needs approval, ask for the specific provision in the declaration, bylaws, or rules that supports it. Have a lawyer review it before you rely on it or sign a lease.

The Ontario Human Rights Code applies to housing in Ontario, including condo leasing. No one involved, whether the owner, the board, or property management, can discriminate based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status, disability, or receipt of public assistance.

Anyone refused housing on one of these protected grounds can apply to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.

What Buildings Can Legitimately Ask For

Buildings with a tenant registration process typically ask for basic information for building records, such as contact details and the move-in date. Some also ask the tenant to confirm they received the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules. These requirements must apply consistently to all residents and cannot be used as a pretext for discrimination.

For more on what landlords can and cannot ask during the screening process, read our article on tenant screening in Ontario.

What Documents Do You Need Before Renting a Condo?

Ontario condo owners must prepare specific documents before renting their unit. Section 83 of the Condominium Act, 1998 sets out the legal requirements, and your condo corporation’s bylaws may add to that list. Getting these right before you list the unit prevents delays and compliance issues after a tenant moves in.

Section 83 Disclosure Requirements

Under Section 83, within 10 days of signing a lease or renewal, you must notify the condo corporation that your unit is leased. You also need to provide the corporation with the tenant’s name, your current address, and a copy of the lease or the prescribed summary form.

At the same time, you must give the tenant a copy of the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules. If the lease ends and is not renewed, notify the corporation in writing within 10 days. For a full breakdown of how tenancies end in Ontario, including notice periods and termination forms, see our guide to how residential leases end in Ontario. These timelines are strict, and the corporation must maintain a record of all leasing notices it receives.

Documents to Prepare

Before listing your condo for rent, gather these documents: your condo corporation’s declaration, bylaws, and current rules; the Ontario Standard Lease (mandatory for most residential tenancies); and any tenant registration forms your property management company uses.

You should also check whether your condo’s declaration or bylaws require owners to carry specific insurance. For a summary instead of the full lease, use the Condominium Authority of Ontario’s Summary of Lease or Renewal form.

If your building has a tenant registration process, complete it before finalizing move-in dates. For a broader overview of Ontario leasing requirements, visit our leasing in Ontario guide.

How to Rent Out Your Condo in Ontario: Step by Step

To rent out your condo in Ontario, review your declaration, bylaws, and rules, and update your insurance. Screen your tenant within the Human Rights Code and sign the Ontario Standard Lease. Then send your Section 83 notice within 10 days of signing. Following these steps in order protects you from compliance issues and delays.

Step 1: Review Your Condo’s Governing Documents

Start with the declaration, bylaws, and rules. Look for minimum lease terms, registration requirements, limits on the number of leased units, pet restrictions, and short-term rental prohibitions. If anything is unclear, contact your property management company directly and ask for written clarification.

Step 2: Check Your Insurance

Standard condo owner insurance may not cover a rented unit. Contact your insurance provider and confirm you have landlord insurance that covers tenant-occupied use. Some condo bylaws also set insurance requirements for owners, so check yours and keep proof of coverage on file.

Your policy should include liability coverage in case a tenant or guest suffers an injury in your unit.

Step 3: Notify Property Management

Before marketing the unit, confirm with your property management company what forms and processes are required. Some require a tenant registration package. Others need advance notice of the listing. Getting this information upfront prevents surprises after you find a tenant.

Step 4: Screen Your Tenant

Screen your tenant thoroughly within the boundaries of the Ontario Human Rights Code. You can verify income, run a credit check with consent, contact previous landlords for references, and confirm identification. You cannot discriminate based on any protected ground. Our tenant screening guide covers the full process.

Step 5: Prepare and Sign the Lease

Use the Ontario Standard Lease, which is mandatory for most residential tenancies. In section 2, the tenant agrees to follow the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules that you provide. Section 11 lets you require the tenant to carry liability insurance. For a section-by-section walkthrough, see our guide to the Ontario Standard Lease. For details on which additional terms are enforceable and which are not, see our guide to Ontario lease clauses that hold up at the LTB.

You can collect a rent deposit of up to one month’s rent, applied to the last month of the tenancy. You can also collect a refundable key deposit that does not exceed the cost of replacing the keys. Damage deposits, pet deposits, and most other fees are not allowed.

Step 6: Complete Building Registration and Your Section 83 Notice

If your building has a tenant registration or move-in process, complete it with the property management company. Then send your Section 83 notice within 10 days of signing the lease. Ideally, finish both before you confirm the move-in date and hand over keys.

What Are the Risks of Renting Out a Condo in Ontario?

Renting out a condo carries specific risks that do not apply to freehold rental properties. Condo rules can add obligations your lease doesn’t mention. Your corporation can charge costs back to your unit, and short-term rental violations can bring significant municipal fines. Understanding these risks before you list your unit is essential. Selling later with a tenant in place is even more complex. Our guide covers selling a tenanted property in Ontario.

Lease Terms That Conflict With the Declaration

If your lease doesn’t meet a condition in the declaration, such as a minimum lease term, the corporation can require you to bring the tenancy into compliance. If you’ve already signed the lease, you may need to renegotiate it with the tenant, which creates delays and possible legal complications.

Short-Term Rental Violations

Many condo declarations prohibit short-term rentals entirely, and municipal penalties add to that risk. In Toronto, a conviction can bring a fine of up to $100,000. Alternatively, daily fines of up to $10,000 can apply for each day the violation continues. The City can also seek special fines for any economic gain. Even if your municipality allows short-term rentals, your condo corporation’s documents may not. Breaching them gives the corporation grounds to pursue compliance action and seek to recover its legal costs from you.

Damage to Common Elements

As the unit owner, you can be responsible for damage your tenant causes to common elements such as hallways, lobbies, elevators, and parking areas. Many declarations and bylaws let the corporation charge repair costs back to the unit responsible, often up to the corporation’s insurance deductible. These chargebacks can run into thousands of dollars.

Insurance Gaps

A standard condo owner insurance policy may not cover claims that arise when a tenant occupies your unit. If you have not updated your policy to landlord coverage, you could be personally liable for damage, injury claims, or loss of rental income. Check your condo’s bylaws as well, since some set insurance requirements for owners.

Condo Rules That Go Beyond Your Lease

Condo bylaws and rules apply alongside your lease, subject to the law, including the RTA. They can impose obligations your lease doesn’t mention. For example, a no-pet clause in a lease is void under the RTA, but a condo declaration or rules can still restrict pets, and the tenant must comply. If the tenant refuses, the corporation can take enforcement steps against you, your tenant, or both. As the owner, you are expected to take reasonable steps to bring the tenant into compliance. Including a clause in your lease that requires the tenant to comply with all condo rules helps, but it does not eliminate the risk entirely. For a full list of lease clauses that the RTA voids regardless of what the parties signed, see our article on illegal lease clauses in Ontario.

Should You Rent Your Condo or Not?

Renting your condo makes sense in some situations and creates more risk than reward in others. Working with condo owners across the GTA and Niagara Region, we’ve found that the decision usually comes down to a clear set of conditions. The framework below isn’t a formal checklist, but it captures the questions every condo owner should think through before listing the unit.

Rent Your Condo If These Conditions Are True

Your condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules permit residential leasing without restrictions you can’t accept. The minimum lease term, any limits on leased units, and any registration requirements all fit your situation.

You can hold the unit for at least one full lease term, ideally one year. Short lease terms in a building that doesn’t permit them or in a market where vacancy is rising create more headaches than rental income justifies.

You have landlord insurance in place that meets any requirements in your condo’s bylaws. The premium increase from owner-occupied to landlord coverage is worth the protection from a tenant-related claim.

Your unit is in rentable condition. Worn carpet, dated appliances, or visible wear will attract weaker applicants and lower rent. If the unit needs work, do the work first.

You’re prepared to follow the RTA. Once a tenant moves in, you cannot simply ask them to leave. A tenancy ends only through a route the RTA allows. These include the tenant’s notice, a written agreement, or a landlord’s notice for a permitted reason on the correct form. If the tenant doesn’t leave, the landlord needs an LTB order. Owners who want their unit back on short notice should not rent it out.

Pause Before Listing If These Conditions Are True

Your condo’s declaration prohibits or significantly restricts leasing, and the restrictions don’t fit your plan. Trying to work around documented restrictions creates compliance risk and potential chargebacks.

You may want to sell within the next year. Selling a tenanted condo is more complex than selling vacant. A tenant does not have to move out when the lease term ends. The tenancy continues month to month unless it ends through a valid notice, an agreement, or a Landlord and Tenant Board order, which limits your options. If a sale is on the horizon, talk to us about timing before you list as a rental.

You can’t comfortably cover the mortgage and condo fees if the unit sits vacant for a month or two between tenants. Vacancy risk is real, especially in newer buildings with high investor concentration. A landlord who needs every dollar of rent has less room to be selective during screening.

You don’t have or can’t afford landlord insurance. The cost of a single liability claim or damage event without coverage will exceed years of premiums.

You’re considering a short-term rental but haven’t checked the condo declaration. Some GTA condos prohibit rentals shorter than 12 months entirely, and municipal short-term rental rules, such as Toronto’s, add another layer of compliance. Confirm both before listing.

If You’re Not Ready to Rent Yet

If your situation falls into the second category, that doesn’t mean you can never rent the unit. It means the conditions need to change first. That might mean adjusting your timeline, securing insurance, or revisiting the decision once your plans fit what the building and the RTA require.

Ontario landlord, tenant, and condominium law can change. This article reflects legislation and procedures as of October 2026 and is for general informational purposes only. Confirm current rules and obligations with a qualified legal professional before making decisions.