Renting

Renting a Home

• Finding a home on the web
• Tenant rights
• Realtors
• Utilities
• Phone
• Suggested Rental Tips & Article: Adventures in Apartment Hunting

Finding a home on the web

• University of Toronto Off-Campus Housing Service – housing site for U of T staff, faculty and students at all three campuses

The Faculty Relocation Service does not endorse any of these external resources/companies.

• Craigslist
• Kijiji-Toronto
• Padmapper
• Viewit.ca
• AcademicHomes
• SabbaticalHomes
• Mid Term Rental Properties
• RentBoard
• Rent Canada
• Renter’s Hotline
• RentSeeker.ca
• Greenwin Property Management
• liv.rent

Tenant rights

Residential Tenancies Act

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) sets the rules for rent increases, evictions, repairs and all other issues that affect tenants in Ontario.

City of Toronto bylaws

The City of Toronto has many bylaws (e.g. parking, noise, litter) that directly affect the residents of a neighbourhood. Search the City’s bylaws and read the City bylaw FAQ.

Ontario Human Rights Code

Tenants and landlords (or housing providers) have rights and responsibilities under the provincial Human Rights Code. As a tenant, you have the right to fair treatment in housing without discrimination and harassment.

Read the Human Rights for Tenants Brochure for more information, or check out the complete Ontario Human Rights Code.

The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations’ Tenant Hotline is a free tenant’s rights counselling service for tenants in Toronto.

Real Estate Agents

Although most real estate agents in Toronto deal primarily with home purchases and sales, some also handle rentals. While the Faculty Relocation Service does not have preferred providers, we can provide you with some names of realtors used by other incoming faculty members. Please feel free to contact us for a referral.

Utilities

For more information, see the section Setting up your household – Utilities.

Suggested Rental Tips

If you are planning to rent upon your relocation, below are a few suggestions from a local realtor regarding what to expect and how to prepare:

• New tenants will typically need to supply a letter of employment as well as a rental application (which you’ll receive from the realtor or landlord). You can ask your unit for a letter of employment.
• Be prepared for a credit check.
• Upon arrival, you should immediately open a bank account. More information is available in our Banking section.
• The landlord will likely require a deposit equivalent to the first and last month’s rent. The first month’s rent is applied to the first month you live in the unit and the last month’s rent is held for your final month.
• Having these items ready to go will aid in securing an apartment as vacancies in Toronto tend to be rented quickly.