Ontario is introducing a new, simple standard lease that will be mandatory for private residential leases signed on or after April 30, 2018, including tenancies in single and semi-detached houses, apartment buildings, rented condominiums and secondary units (such as basement apartments).
Currently there is no standardized form for rental agreements between landlords and tenants in Ontario. The FMTA launched a campaign to secure a standardized lease in 2012.
The new lease form is written in easy-to-understand language and is templated to capture basic information such as names and addresses, the total rent and when it's due, and any rules or terms about the rental unit or building. It also outlines the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords, and explains what can (and cannot) be included in a lease. For example, landlords cannot ban guests or pets.
A guide to understanding the lease will also be released in 23 languages.