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Free guide · RentersThe GTA Renter's Guide
How to find a rental and win it: budget, documents, viewings, applications and the lease, with a rent budget calculator.
The process, in 7 steps.
- 1
Set your rent budget
Many landlords look for rent of about a third of gross household income or less. Budget for upfront costs too: first and last month's rent, plus tenant insurance and moving.
- 2
Prepare your documents
Have a complete package ready before you view: ID, employment letter, recent pay stubs, a credit report and references from previous landlords.
- 3
Search smart
Good rentals in the GTA can go quickly. Know your must-haves, set alerts, and be ready to view within a day or two.
- 4
View in person
Check water pressure, appliances, windows, storage, parking, laundry and noise, and ask which utilities are included.
- 5
Apply
Submit a complete application quickly. A short cover note about you, your work and why you'll be a great tenant can help you stand out.
- 6
Sign the lease
Most private residential tenancies in Ontario must use the Ontario Standard Lease. Landlords can generally collect last month's rent as a deposit, plus a refundable key deposit, but not a damage deposit.
- 7
Move in
Get tenant insurance, set up utilities that are in your name, and photograph the unit on move-in day.
Tick off each step as you go.
Your progress is saved in this browser, so you can come back any time.
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Rent budget calculator
- Suggested maximum rent
- –
- Upfront: first + last month
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- Rent as share of income
A guideline, not a rule. Add tenant insurance, utilities not included in rent, and moving costs to your budget.
Common questions.
Does a renter pay a realtor?
In the GTA, the landlord usually pays the leasing commission, so tenants typically don't pay their agent directly. Terms are always confirmed in writing first.
How fast do I need to decide?
Often within a day or two of viewing for well-priced rentals, which is why having your documents ready matters.
Turn this guide into your plan.
Every move is different. Send me a few details and I'll reply personally with a plan for your situation: timing, costs and the steps that matter most for you.
Other guides:
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What clients say.
Real reviews from clients on Google.
Over the course of just three weeks, we looked at 30 homes, and Alexey never missed a beat. … He made what could have been a stressful experience feel organized and manageable. … We couldn’t have asked for a better agent.
We bought a new house with Alexey and had to sell ours in a short time frame in a challenging market. Alexey has used various marketing techniques to get the maximum exposure for our property and we succeeded and successfully sold our home on time!
Even though I was out of town and travelling for work during our search, Alexey would work very hard to visit units on my behalf on short notice (even visiting multiple units per day). … This turned a potentially stressful situation into a very smooth and easy process.
He is so enthusiastic to do OPEN HOUSE until you sell your house. Even on a long weekend. Another good trait that he has is he will reply to your message anytime of the time within few minutes. And if you have kids, he will take care of them while you’re viewing the house, he will guard the stairs to safeguard them. Highly recommended
Rated 5.0 across 21 Google reviews.
Ready when you are.
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