Few Things You Shall Know when renting / leasing House or Appartment
Your rights as a Tenant are protected by Residential Tenancies Act (2006). There are quite a few interesting provisions on the act that landlords often "mysteriously forget" to mention when signing lease agreement. Here are some that most Tenants are not aware of.
1. Tenant is not required to provide a landlord with postdated cheques or agree to automatic debit payments from the account. Landlord is allowed to ask for the cheques, and tenant might agree, but does not HAVE TO!
2. "NO PET" provision is unenforceable for most rental properties (condominiums with "no pet" provision included in a declaration would be exempted). The landlord may make an application for an order to terminate the tenancy and evict the tenant under some circumstances - where animals cause serious allergic reaction, substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of the property by other tenants or when animal is inherently dangerous. In other words - you can keep your pet, unless it is a cobra, or it barks its head off whole night. Tenant will also be responsible for any damage caused by the pets.
3. Rent increases are allowed only once per 12 month period. For the year 2013 max rent increase was published at 2.5%
SAMPLE RENT INCREASE GUIDELINE
The monthly rent of an apartment is $800 beginning August 1, 2012. With proper written 90 days notice to the tenant, the landlord could lawfully increase the rent 12 months later on August 1, 2013.
For example:
The guideline for 2013 is 2.5 per cent.
The rent increase is 2.5 per cent of $800 = $20.00.
Therefore, the new rent on August 1, 2013 could be up to $820.00 ($800 + $20.00)
The landlord MUST give at least 90 days notice on an approved form for any rent increase.
4. A rent deposit cannot be more than the lesser of the amount of rent for one rental period or one month. It is commonly referred to as last month rent.
5. Landlord is NOT allowed to request any security deposits.
6. Landlord is required to pay the tenant interest annually on the rent deposit
7. Landlord is allowed to terminate the rent for the following:
non-payment of rent
illegal act, misrepresentation of income, damage, interference with reasonable enjoyment of other tenants, impairing safety, too many persons occupying the rental unit
Still have questions or need help? Well, you know where too find me :)
Wishing you well deserved reasonable enjoyment of your property!
Compliments of Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca
1. Tenant is not required to provide a landlord with postdated cheques or agree to automatic debit payments from the account. Landlord is allowed to ask for the cheques, and tenant might agree, but does not HAVE TO!
2. "NO PET" provision is unenforceable for most rental properties (condominiums with "no pet" provision included in a declaration would be exempted). The landlord may make an application for an order to terminate the tenancy and evict the tenant under some circumstances - where animals cause serious allergic reaction, substantially interfere with the reasonable enjoyment of the property by other tenants or when animal is inherently dangerous. In other words - you can keep your pet, unless it is a cobra, or it barks its head off whole night. Tenant will also be responsible for any damage caused by the pets.
3. Rent increases are allowed only once per 12 month period. For the year 2013 max rent increase was published at 2.5%
SAMPLE RENT INCREASE GUIDELINE
The monthly rent of an apartment is $800 beginning August 1, 2012. With proper written 90 days notice to the tenant, the landlord could lawfully increase the rent 12 months later on August 1, 2013.
For example:
The guideline for 2013 is 2.5 per cent.
The rent increase is 2.5 per cent of $800 = $20.00.
Therefore, the new rent on August 1, 2013 could be up to $820.00 ($800 + $20.00)
The landlord MUST give at least 90 days notice on an approved form for any rent increase.
4. A rent deposit cannot be more than the lesser of the amount of rent for one rental period or one month. It is commonly referred to as last month rent.
5. Landlord is NOT allowed to request any security deposits.
6. Landlord is required to pay the tenant interest annually on the rent deposit
7. Landlord is allowed to terminate the rent for the following:
non-payment of rent
illegal act, misrepresentation of income, damage, interference with reasonable enjoyment of other tenants, impairing safety, too many persons occupying the rental unit
Still have questions or need help? Well, you know where too find me :)
Wishing you well deserved reasonable enjoyment of your property!
Compliments of Marina Gavrylyuk
Real Estate Agent with Sutton Group Summit Realty
www.MarinaG.ca