First Apartment Checklist for Canadian Renters

Start with the number, not the listings. A common guideline used by housing agencies such as CMHC (cmhc-schl.gc.ca) is to keep shelter costs at or below about 30 percent of your gross household income. Shelter costs mean more than rent: add utilities, internet, tenant insurance and parking if you need it. In Toronto and much of the GTA, one bedroom units typically rent for considerably more than basement apartments, shared houses or units in outer suburbs, so decide early which trade offs you can live with.

Next, build your application package before you start booking viewings. Landlords in competitive markets often choose among several applicants within a day or two, and the renter with complete paperwork usually wins. Have these ready:

• Government photo ID such as a driver's licence or passport
• Proof of income: recent pay stubs, an employment letter, or a job offer
• A recent credit report from Equifax or TransUnion
• References from a previous landlord, employer or another credible contact
• A guarantor's information if you are a student or new to Canada with a thin credit file

Finally, know the deposit rules for your province. In Ontario, a landlord may collect a rent deposit of at most one rental period's rent, and it can only be applied to your last month of rent. Damage or security deposits are not permitted under Ontario law, and key deposits must be refundable and limited to the actual cost of the keys. Rules differ in other provinces, so check your provincial government site before handing over money.

Photos hide a lot. Always view a unit in person, or send someone you trust, before paying anything. Walking through with a checklist keeps first apartment excitement from clouding your judgment.

• Water and heat: run the taps and shower to test pressure and hot water, and ask what kind of heating the unit has and who pays for it
• Windows and doors: check that they open, close and lock properly, and feel for drafts in colder months
• Signs of pests: look inside kitchen cabinets, along baseboards and behind the stove for droppings or traps
• Phone signal and outlets: check your reception in every room and count the electrical outlets
• Laundry, storage and parking: confirm what is included, where it is, and whether it costs extra
• Noise: listen for traffic, neighbours and mechanical noise, and visit at a different time of day if you can
• Safety devices: confirm there are smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms where the building has fuel burning appliances or an attached garage

Bring a tape measure and record the dimensions of each room and doorway, because a sofa that cannot make the turn into a hallway is a classic first apartment mistake. Take photos and short videos as you go. They help you compare units later and become useful evidence of the unit's condition if you apply and move in. Ask direct questions about average utility costs, internet providers available in the building, and anything that seems worn or damaged.

Most private residential tenancies in Ontario must use the provincial standard lease form, which you can find on ontario.ca. If a landlord hands you a completely different document for a standard rental unit, treat that as a flag and ask why. Before you sign, read every filled in field, not just the rent amount.

• Rent and due date: confirm the amount, the date it is due and how it should be paid
• Utilities and services: check which ones are included and which you must set up yourself
• Names and unit details: everyone living in the unit as a tenant should be listed correctly
• Additional terms: read any attached clauses carefully

Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act overrides lease clauses that conflict with it. For example, standard no pets clauses are generally void once a tenancy begins, although separate condominium rules can still apply, and a landlord cannot collect a damage deposit no matter what the lease says. If a clause seems off, verify it against the plain language guides on ontario.ca or tribunalsontario.ca rather than taking anyone's word for it.

On the day you get the keys, document the unit's condition thoroughly with photos and video, including inside closets and appliances, and email them to yourself or the landlord so they are date stamped. Ask for receipts for your rent deposit and any payments. In Ontario, landlords must provide rent receipts free of charge when a tenant asks for them.

The week around moving day is mostly logistics, and doing these tasks in order saves real money and stress.

• Set up utilities early: contact the local electricity utility to open an account in your name for your move in date, and do the same for gas or water if the lease makes you responsible for them
• Book internet ahead: installation appointments in busy months can be one to two weeks out, so schedule before you move
• Get tenant insurance: in Canada the product is called tenant insurance or tenant's insurance, and it covers your belongings and your personal liability; many landlords ask for proof of coverage before handing over keys, and it typically costs far less than most people expect
• Update your address: in Ontario, update your driver's licence and health card through ServiceOntario, and notify the CRA (canada.ca), your bank, your employer and any subscription services
• Forward your mail: Canada Post offers mail forwarding from your old address, which catches anything you forget
• Book the elevator: in apartment and condo buildings, reserve the moving elevator with building management as soon as your date is confirmed

For the move itself, compare the cost of hiring movers against renting a truck with friends, and get any mover's quote in writing. Label boxes by room, and pack a first night box with essentials such as a phone charger, toiletries, a change of clothes, basic tools and toilet paper, so you are not digging through boxes at midnight.

You do not need to furnish an entire apartment in one weekend. Cover the essentials first, then add the rest gradually as you learn how you actually use the space.

Kitchen

• One pot, one frying pan and a baking sheet
• A chef's knife, cutting board, and basic utensils
• Plates, bowls, glasses and cutlery for four
• Dish soap, tea towels and a drying rack

Bedroom and bathroom

• A mattress, bedding and two sets of sheets
• Curtains or blinds if the unit has none
• Towels, a shower curtain and a plunger, which you should buy before you need it

Living room and workspace

• Somewhere to sit, even if it is a secondhand loveseat or floor cushions at first
• A lamp or two, since overhead lighting in older rentals is often weak
• A small table or desk if you work or study from home

Cleaning and tools

• Broom, mop or vacuum, all purpose cleaner and garbage bags
• A small toolkit with a screwdriver, hammer, measuring tape and picture hooks
• A flashlight, spare batteries and a power bar with surge protection

On safety: Ontario landlords are responsible for providing working smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms are required near sleeping areas where the home has a fuel burning appliance, fireplace or attached garage. Test the alarms when you move in, never remove their batteries, and report any problem to your landlord in writing. Buying secondhand is a smart way to stretch a first apartment budget, but inspect used upholstered furniture and mattresses carefully before bringing them home, since they can carry pests such as bed bugs.

Once the boxes are unpacked, a few habits will keep your tenancy smooth for years.

• Pay rent on time, every time, and keep proof of every payment; ask for receipts if you pay in cash
• Put maintenance requests in writing: in Ontario, landlords are responsible for keeping the unit in a good state of repair under the Residential Tenancies Act, and a dated email or text creates the paper trail you will need if a problem drags on
• Know the entry rules: outside emergencies, an Ontario landlord generally must give written notice before entering your unit, so you are entitled to reasonable privacy in your own home
• Keep a tenancy folder: your lease, deposit receipts, move in photos, insurance policy and all landlord correspondence in one place

If a serious dispute ever comes up, the Landlord and Tenant Board handles residential tenancy issues in Ontario, and tribunalsontario.ca explains its forms and process in plain language. For general tenant rights information, ontario.ca is the authoritative starting point. Most first tenancies never need any of this, but knowing where the rules live makes you a more confident renter.

Budget wise, expect the first month to cost more than a normal month because of one time purchases, and give yourself a few months to see what your real utility costs look like before loosening your budget. When you are ready to find the place itself, you can browse apartments, condos and houses for rent across Toronto, the GTA and the rest of Canada on gottarent.com and put this checklist to work.