Moving In

Do participate in a move-in and a move-out inspection, or else risk losing your deposit. Don’t pay a deposit for a place you are not sure you want, or you may lose your deposit.

Security deposit and pet damage deposit

A landlord can ask you for a security deposit (also called a damage deposit) to cover the costs of damage to the unit or property, or unpaid rent or utilities. The landlord can also ask for a pet damage deposit and deposits for extras like keys or garage door openers. Your landlord can only ask for a security deposit when you first agree to rent the place. You must pay the full security deposit within 30 days after you move in or you can be evicted. See Sections 20 and 47 of the RTA

Amount of security deposit

The most a landlord can ask you to pay for a security deposit is a half month’s rent. The landlord cannot ask for an extra deposit if the rent goes up. If the landlord collects more than one half month’s rent as a security deposit, the law allows the tenant to deduct the overpayment from rent, or otherwise recover the overpayment. Make sure you let the landlord know why you are deducting the overpayment.

Pet damage deposit

A landlord can ask for an additional half month’s rent as a pet damage deposit. The landlord can ask you for this when you move in with your pet or when you get a pet. You only have to pay one pet damage deposit. The landlord cannot ask you to pay extra deposits if you have more than one pet. If the landlord collects more than one half month’s rent as a pet damage deposit, the law allows the tenant to deduct the overpayment from rent, or otherwise recover the overpayment.

Protect yourself

If you pay a deposit and then change your mind about moving in, you might not be able to get your money back. The landlord might try to make you pay the month’s rent if another tenant cannot be found to rent the place. Don’t sign anything and don’t give money to the landlord until all your questions are answered. Make sure you really want the place before you pay any money and make sure you know the landlord’s name and address. Whenever you give the landlord cash, get a receipt. It is better to pay with a cheque or money order.

If you get a new landlord

If your building is sold and you get a new landlord you don’t have to pay a new deposit. You only have to pay a deposit when you move into a place, sign a new agreement, or get a pet. It is the new landlord’s responsibility to get the deposits from your former landlord. The new landlord is responsible for paying back your deposit when you move out.

Applying deposit towards rent

You cannot use your security deposit towards your rent unless your landlord agrees to it in writing. For example, you cannot pay only half of your last month’s rent and tell the landlord to cover the rest with your security deposit. If you do this the landlord can evict you for non-payment of rent, which means you would have to be out in ten days, yet you would still owe rent for the entire month. If you owe rent when you move out and there is no damage to the place or other payments that you owe the landlord, the landlord can put your security deposit towards what you still owe in rent. See Section 21 of the RTA

In law, a calculation of the allowable legal expenses of a party to a court proceeding, as determined by the Supreme Court Family Rules. The party who is most successful in a court proceeding is usually awarded their "costs" of the proceeding. See "account," "bill of costs," "Certificate of Costs or Expenses" and "lawyer's fees."

Something which can be owned. See "chattels" and "real property."

A mandatory direction of the court that is binding and enforceable upon the parties to a court proceeding. An "interim order" is a temporary order made following the hearing of an interim application. A "final order" is a permanent order, made following the trial of the court proceeding or the parties' settlement, following which the only recourse open to a dissatisfied party is to appeal. Failing to abide by the terms of an order may constitute contempt of court. See "appeal," "consent order," "contempt of court," "decision" and "declaration."