How do you find a rental property?

Start with listing sites such as SQRFT's rental listings, which show the rent up front. Then check property management companies, building signs in the areas you want, and people you know who rent there. Contact several places at once, because good units can go quickly.

Private landlords often list on rental sites and put signs on the property. Filter listings for houses, basement suites and condos, which are often owned by individuals. In most cases a private landlord has to follow the same tenancy law as a large company, so expect the same deposit limits and get a written lease.

Widen your search to nearby areas, consider a smaller unit, a basement suite or a room in a shared home, and be flexible on your move-in date. Compare asking rents for similar places before you apply. A rent well below everything around it can be a scam, so view the place and meet the landlord before you pay.

Warning signs include a landlord who cannot meet or show the unit, asks for a deposit before you have seen it, wants a wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency, or pushes you to decide fast. Check that the person owns or manages the property, and search the address and photos online to see if they appear in other ads. Read how to spot rental scams for more.

Ask the person showing the unit for the landlord's full name and contact address, and make sure the lease names them. Your province's land titles office can tell you who owns a property, usually for a fee. For a managed building, the manager can confirm who the owner is.

Look for a sign at the entrance or in the lobby, ask current tenants, or search the building's address online. The lease and any notices you receive should name the landlord or the company acting for them, so check the name before you pay any money.

Some realtors and leasing agents help tenants find rentals, especially in busy markets. Ask whether they work for you or for the landlord, and who pays their fee, before you agree to anything. You can also search listings yourself, since many landlords and managers advertise directly.

Rent control depends on the province, not the building. British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and PEI limit yearly increases for most units, while Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador have no limit. There are exceptions: in Ontario, most units first lived in after November 15, 2018 are exempt, and in Ontario and Nova Scotia the limit does not control the starting rent for a new tenant. See is there rent control.

Furnished rentals, sublets and month-to-month units are the usual options for a few weeks or months. If you take over someone else's unit, make sure the landlord has agreed (see how to sublet an apartment). Before you pay, ask whether the stay will be a tenancy under your province's law, because some short stays fall outside it.

Rent-to-own homes are usually offered by private owners and some companies, so search listings and ask sellers directly. Before you sign, have a lawyer review the agreement and confirm the seller owns the home. Our page on renting or buying a house explains how rent to own works and its risks.

Keep your own record: old leases, rent receipts, bank records of rent payments and contact details for past landlords. In Ontario a landlord must give a free receipt for any payment when you ask, including for up to 12 months after you move out, and in Newfoundland and Labrador on request (see rent receipt rules). A short letter from a past landlord confirming you paid on time helps your next application.

Not in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia or PEI, where fees to take or process an application are banned. In Alberta they are not against the law, but you can decline to apply. For New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador, ask the province's tenancy office before you pay one.

Start with a budget that covers the rent, utilities you pay yourself, tenant insurance and the money due before move-in, then search the areas that suit you, such as rentals on SQRFT. Gather photo ID, proof of income and a past landlord's contact before you view places, check for scam signs, and never send money for a unit you have not seen. Before you sign, learn the most your province lets a landlord take up front (see how much a landlord can ask for as a deposit), read the whole lease and keep a signed copy. On move-in day, walk through the unit with the landlord, note every mark and take dated photos.

No rental history yet? See what to do if you have no landlord reference and our first-time renter checklist.

Ask who the landlord or manager is and who to call for repairs, what the rent includes, when it is due and how to pay it. Ask how much the deposit is, whether any application fee applies (fees are banned in British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, and we found no ban in Alberta, New Brunswick or Newfoundland and Labrador), and what the rules are on pets, parking and smoking. Ask how long the lease runs and whether you can read it before you pay anything.

Get any money paid to hold the unit in writing (see can a landlord keep a holding deposit), and plan a move-in inspection so you can record the condition of the unit (SQRFT advice).