Updated: April 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, from reviewing condo bylaws and screening tenants to preparing leases that meet both provincial and condo corporation requirements.
Renting a condo in Ontario is legal, but condo corporations can restrict how, when, and to whom you lease your unit through bylaws, declarations, and rules. Before listing your condo for rent, you need to review your condo’s governing documents, follow the disclosure requirements in Section 83 of the Condominium Act, and use the Ontario Standard Lease. Skipping any of these steps can lead to fines, chargebacks, or disputes with the board.
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Renting a condo in Ontario is not the same as renting a house. In addition to the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), condo bylaws, corporation rules, and board approval processes can directly affect whether you can lease your unit and who you can lease it to. If you own a condo in the GTA or Niagara Region and you’re considering renting it out, review both provincial law and your condo corporation’s governing documents before signing a lease.
We work with condo owners across Mississauga, Toronto, Etobicoke, Burlington, and St. Catharines who want to lease their units. The process is straightforward when you follow the right steps, but costly when you don’t. This guide covers exactly what Ontario condo owners need to know, from legal requirements and board restrictions to the risks most landlords overlook.
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 corporation may set minimum lease terms, require tenant approval forms, or restrict short-term rentals entirely. Those rules carry legal weight, and violating them can result in fines and compliance orders.
What the Residential Tenancies Act Covers
Once a tenant occupies your condo unit under a lease, the RTA applies in full. That means rent control rules apply to units first occupied before November 15, 2018. For 2026, the Ontario rent increase guideline is 2.1%. Your tenant also has the right to proper maintenance, 24-hour written notice before entry, and protection from illegal eviction.
The condo corporation has no direct legal relationship with your tenant. If the tenant breaches condo rules, the corporation deals with you as the owner. You are then responsible for ensuring your tenant complies. 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 restrict rentals through bylaws, rules, and declarations, even if the Residential Tenancies Act allows leasing. The declaration carries the most weight because the corporation registers it on title, and it binds all owners. Bylaws must align with the declaration, and rules must align with both.
Common Rental Restrictions in Ontario Condos
Many condo corporations in the GTA set minimum lease terms of six months or one year. Some require that tenants complete an application form reviewed by the property management company. Others restrict the total number of units in the building that can be rented at any given time, often called a rental cap.
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. Toronto’s municipal bylaws also require short-term rental operators to register with the city, limit entire-home rentals to 180 nights per year, and collect the Municipal Accommodation Tax.
How Restrictions Are Enforced
When a condo owner violates rental restrictions, the board typically starts with a written notice. If the owner does not comply, the corporation can escalate to the Condominium Authority Tribunal (CAT) for disputes about nuisances, pets, parking, and some compliance matters.
For more serious breaches, the corporation may pursue the matter in Superior Court. In either case, the corporation can also charge back its legal and enforcement costs to the unit owner.
Can a Condo Board Reject a Tenant?
A condo board in Ontario cannot reject a tenant outright based on personal preference, but it can enforce the condo corporation’s governing documents. If your condo’s declaration or bylaws include a tenant approval process, the board or property management company can review the application and deny approval if the applicant does not meet the documented criteria.
However, the Ontario Human Rights Code applies to all tenant screening in Ontario, including condo tenant approvals. Condo boards cannot discriminate based on race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital status, family status, disability, or receipt of public assistance.
If a board rejects a tenant on any of these protected grounds, the owner or applicant can file a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario.
What Boards Can Legitimately Review
Boards that have a tenant approval process typically review identification, proof of income or employment, and references. Some also require the tenant to acknowledge receipt of the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules. The board must apply these requirements consistently to all applicants and cannot use them 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.
We’ve Seen This Play Out
We had a client in Mississauga who found what they thought was the perfect tenant: strong income, solid references, and ready to move in right away. The landlord signed the lease before submitting the tenant application to the condo’s property management company. The board flagged that the condo’s declaration required a minimum one-year lease, but the signed lease was for eight months. The landlord had to renegotiate the lease term with the tenant before the board would process the move-in.
That situation was fixable, but it delayed the tenancy by three weeks and created unnecessary friction. Reviewing the condo’s governing documents before signing a lease would have prevented the issue entirely.
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 you terminate the lease without renewal, notify the corporation in writing within 10 days of the termination date. 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 application forms your property management company requires.
You should also have proof of landlord insurance if your condo corporation requires it, along with a copy of the Section 83 summary form available from the Condominium Authority of Ontario.
If your condo corporation requires tenant approval, submit the application and wait for confirmation before finalizing move-in dates. For a broader overview of Ontario leasing requirements, visit our leasing in Ontario guide.
Step-by-Step: How to Rent Out a Condo in Ontario
The process of renting a condo in Ontario involves both provincial requirements and condo-specific procedures. 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, tenant approval processes, rental caps, 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. Many condo corporations also require proof of insurance before they process a lease notification.
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 application 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 for all residential tenancies. Add any additional terms your condo corporation requires, such as a clause requiring the tenant to comply with the condo’s rules and maintain tenant insurance. Collect first and last month’s rent only. The RTA prohibits damage deposits and additional fees.
Step 6: Submit for Board Approval and Complete Disclosure
If your condo requires tenant approval, submit the completed application to the property management company and wait for confirmation. Within 10 days of signing the lease, file your Section 83 notice with the corporation. Provide the tenant with copies of the declaration, bylaws, and rules. Only then should you finalize 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 bylaws can override lease terms, your corporation can charge costs back to your unit, and short-term rental violations can result in significant municipal fines. Understanding these risks before you list your unit is essential.
Tenant Rejected by the Condo Board
If your condo requires board or management approval for tenants and your applicant does not meet the documented criteria, the tenancy cannot proceed. If you’ve already signed a lease before getting approval, you may need to renegotiate or terminate the lease, which creates legal and financial complications.
Short-Term Rental Violations
Many condo declarations prohibit short-term rentals entirely. In Toronto, operating an unregistered short-term rental can result in fines ranging from $500 to $5,000 per day, with maximum penalties up to $100,000 for serious violations. Even if the municipality allows it, your condo corporation’s rules may not. Violating those rules gives the corporation grounds to pursue compliance action and charge the legal costs back to your unit.
Damage to Common Elements
As the unit owner, you are responsible for any damage your tenant causes to common elements such as hallways, lobbies, elevators, and parking areas. Most Ontario condo corporations have a deductible bylaw that allows them to charge back the cost of repairs (up to the corporation’s insurance deductible) to the unit that caused the damage. 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. Some condo corporations will not process a lease notification without proof of adequate insurance.
Bylaws Overriding Lease Terms
Condo bylaws and rules can impose obligations that go beyond your lease. For example, if your condo prohibits pets but your lease does not mention pets, the condo’s rules still apply, and the tenant must comply. If the tenant refuses, the corporation will hold you, the owner, responsible for enforcement. 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.
We’ve Seen This Play Out
We worked with a condo owner in Etobicoke who listed their unit on a short-term rental platform without checking the condo’s declaration. The declaration explicitly prohibited rentals shorter than 12 months. Within weeks, the property management company issued a compliance notice, and the corporation’s lawyer sent a demand letter. The owner had to remove the listing immediately and was charged back over $3,000 in legal and administrative costs.
A five-minute review of the declaration before listing would have flagged the restriction. That’s why we always tell our clients: read the governing documents first, list the unit second.
Renting a Condo in Ontario: Your Questions Answered
Can a condo board refuse a tenant in Ontario?
A condo board cannot refuse a tenant based on personal preference or any ground protected by the Ontario Human Rights Code. However, if the condo’s declaration or bylaws include a tenant approval process with documented criteria, the board can deny an application that does not meet those requirements. The criteria must be applied consistently and cannot be discriminatory.
Can you Airbnb a condo in Ontario?
It depends on both municipal rules and your condo corporation’s governing documents. In Toronto, short-term rental operators must register with the city and can rent their entire home for a maximum of 180 nights per year. However, many condo declarations prohibit short-term rentals entirely. Even where the municipality allows it, your condo’s rules take precedence within the building. Check both before listing.
Do condo rules override a lease in Ontario?
Yes, in practical terms. Condo bylaws and rules apply to all occupants of the building, including tenants. If your lease allows something that the condo’s rules prohibit, the condo rules still apply. Tenants must comply with the corporation’s governing documents, and the owner is responsible for ensuring that compliance.
Do you need board approval to rent a condo in Ontario?
Not in every building. Ontario law does not require board approval for leasing, but many condo corporations have bylaws or rules that include a tenant approval process. Check your condo’s declaration and bylaws to confirm whether approval is required before signing a lease.
What happens if a tenant damages common elements in a condo?
The unit owner is responsible for damage their tenant causes to common elements. Most Ontario condo corporations have a deductible bylaw that allows them to charge back repair costs to the owner’s unit, up to the corporation’s insurance deductible amount. These chargebacks can be significant, so landlord insurance and a well-screened tenant are both essential protections.
What is the Section 83 disclosure requirement for Ontario condo rentals?
Under Section 83 of the Condominium Act, 1998, condo owners must notify the corporation within 10 days of signing a lease. The notice must include the tenant’s name, the owner’s address, and a copy of the lease or the prescribed summary form. The owner must also provide the tenant with copies of the condo’s declaration, bylaws, and rules.
Keith & Françoise Real Estate Team
eXp Realty Brokerage · GTA & Niagara Region
Françoise Pollard, Realtor®, and Keith Goldson, Broker, help condo owners across the GTA and Niagara Region lease their units with confidence. With more than 30 years of combined experience, we handle tenant screening, lease preparation, and condo compliance so our clients avoid the mistakes that cost time and money.
Thinking About Renting Out Your Condo?
We’ll review your condo’s bylaws, handle tenant screening, and make sure your lease meets both provincial and condo requirements. Reach out for a no-obligation conversation.
Get in TouchOntario landlord and tenant law can change. This article reflects legislation and procedures as of the date noted and is for general informational purposes only. Confirm current rules and obligations with a qualified legal professional before making decisions.