Tenant responsibilities in Ontario

Ontario is certainly a renter’s province. Over 30% of Ontario’s population now consists of people who rent their homes, as opposed to owning them. Especially large metropolitan areas like Toronto and Ottawa have large numbers of renters since renting is often more economically viable in areas where property prices tend to be high.

There are many reasons why someone might rent their home as opposed to owning it: For many people, renting allows them to save up for a down payment on a house, or allows them to get settled in a new city before committing to purchasing a property.

Renting also gives many people more flexibility and peace of mind, since they’re not responsible for maintenance or repairs of the property if something is damaged. However, that doesn’t mean that a tenant can do whatever they want in their rental property. Both tenants and landlords have specific responsibilities in Ontario that have been established in the Residential Tenancies Act of 2006. There are still certain requirements that a tenant has to comply with, in addition to honoring their rental contract with their landlord.

Cleanliness

A tenant is required to keep the rental property clean. This means that they’re responsible for ensuring that the home doesn’t become inundated with garbage or other types of refuse, as well as keeping the home in a reasonable, livable state. This also includes cleaning up after guests and pets.

Fixing damages caused by you or your guest

While landlords are required to do repairs and maintenance work on their property, there’s an exception: if you or your guest broke something. If you broke the tiles in your bathroom while trying to drill holes into the wall to mount a mirror, then you’re responsible for fixing the damage. The same goes for anything your guests broke while visiting you or staying with you. Thankfully, this is where tenant insurance swoops in to save the day since it covers any damages you and your guests may cause to rental properties.

Paying rent on time

This one should be pretty self-explanatory but is still worth pointing out: It is your responsibility to pay your rent on time and in full to your landlord unless you two have a written agreement stating otherwise.

Obeying the law

Sorry to disappoint, but you cannot use your flat as a meth lab or a cocaine distribution center. You also cannot turn it into a brothel or a flophouse. This should go without saying: You cannot use the rental property for illegal activity.

Respecting the terms of the rental contract

While the above are all responsibilities set forth by the Residential Tenancies Act, tenants are also obligated to respect the terms set forth between tenants and landlords in the rental contract. These can include specific limitations on the use of the space, as well as guidelines for pet ownership or what modifications if any, you’re allowed to make in your rental.

Owning tenant insurance is one of the safest and easiest ways of ensuring that you’ll be able to honor your responsibilities as a tenant without having to pay a huge bill in case an accident does one day happen.

Tenant insurance isn’t just a smart way of protecting yourself: Many landlords want to see proof of insurance before they decide to enter a rental agreement with a prospective tenant. As such, it can give you a leg up in competitive rental markets-

If you’re wondering where you can get a tenant insurance policy that fits your life and your budget, then check out YouSet. We match you with insurance policies that best fit your budget and criteria. You can then instantly compare coverage and prices in order to find your perfect policy, with the knowledge that you’re getting the best price out there.