Credit, deposits, the standard lease, and where to turn when something goes wrong — the essentials, with links to the official sources.
Most landlords check credit before approving a lease. Pull your own report first (Equifax Canada and TransUnion Canada both provide it free) so you know what a landlord will see and can fix errors.
Commonly a completed application, credit report, proof of income, references, government photo ID, and first and last month’s rent. In Ontario the only legal deposits are last month’s rent and a key deposit at cost — security, damage, pet and cleaning deposits are not allowed.
Ontario’s mandatory Residential Tenancy Agreement (Form 2229E) is required for most residential tenancies signed since April 30, 2018. Always use the current official version from the Government of Ontario.
Rent increases, notices to end a tenancy, maintenance disputes and evictions all run through the Landlord and Tenant Board, which publishes every official form and the current rules.