GUIDE
CAO Tenants’ Guide
Tenants and landlords need to understand their legal rights and responsibilities, potential issues that could arise and how to resolve them.
About the guide
As a tenant you have rights under the Condominium Act and the Residential Tenancies Act. These two laws are complicated and the interplay between them can sometimes lead to confusion and misunderstandings.
This guide has been developed to help tenants understand and navigate the unique features of renting a residential condo unit. Tenants can use these guides to learn about how renting a condo unit is unique and to help decide whether renting a residential condo unit is right for them.
Renting a condo unit
Before you rent a condominium there are various things you need to know. The first section of the guide covers the following topics:
- Before you rent a condo unit and things to consider
- About the Condo Act, The Residential Tenancies Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code
- The roles of the Condo Authority, the Condo Tribunal, the Landlord and Tenant Board and the Condominium Management Regulatory of Ontario
- What is a condo
- How renting a condo unit is different
- How to know if the unit you want to rent is a condo
- Tenancy agreements, security of tenure and termination of tenancy
Questions to consider before renting a condo unit
This section provides answers to questions about renting a condo unit such as:
- Information about landlords
- Rent, key, security and damage deposits
- Rent increases
- Rules for pets
- Insurance
- Guests or roommates
- Selling the unit
When you rent a condo unit
Once you have rented your condo unit you will need to know what’s next. This section of the guide covers the following topics:
- Things your landlord should give you
- What your landlord must notify you about
- When you move-in
Condo rental living
Condo rental living is different. This section of the guide covers the following topics:
- Tenant & landlord rights and responsibilities
- Compliance with governing documents
- Use of the common elements
- Entry to the unit
- Rent increases
- Changes, damages and repairs to the unit
- Paying the landlord’s common expenses fees
- Receiving a CAT notice
Issues and references
This section of the guide covers what to do and who to contact if you have a condo living related issue or any other type of issue.
