GottaRent Blog

Ontario Standard Lease Explained: What to Check Before You Sign

Jul 1, 2026

Keys in an apartment door after signing an Ontario lease agreement

What is a lease agreement? Understand the Ontario standard lease — what it covers, where to get the official PDF, deposits, and what to check before signing.

What Is a Lease Agreement?

A lease agreement is the contract between you and your landlord: it sets out who is renting, what unit, for how long, at what rent, and on what terms. In Ontario, most private residential tenancies signed on or after April 30, 2018 must use the Ontario standard lease agreement — officially the Residential Tenancy Agreement (Standard Form of Lease) — a plain-language form published by the provincial government. The rules that sit behind every lease come from Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, and any clause that contradicts the Act is void even if you signed it.

What the Ontario Standard Lease Covers

The standard lease agreement Ontario uses has a fixed set of sections: the parties and the rental unit, the term (fixed or month to month), the rent amount and what it includes, services and utilities, and deposits. Two deposit rules are worth knowing before you sign: a rent deposit can be at most one month's rent and must be applied to your last month, and a key deposit must be refundable and no more than the actual replacement cost. Landlords may attach additional terms, but anything that conflicts with the Residential Tenancies Act — for example, a blanket 'no pets' clause — is unenforceable (condo corporations' rules are a narrow exception). If a term looks unusual, check it against the government's Guide to the Ontario Standard Lease before signing.

Where to Get the Ontario Lease Agreement PDF

You can download the official Ontario lease agreement PDF free from the provincial government via the Guide to the Ontario Standard Lease — there is no need to buy a lease agreement template for a standard rental. If your tenancy should have used the standard form and your landlord did not provide it, you can demand a copy in writing; if it is not provided within 21 days, the Act lets you withhold one month's rent, and in some cases end a fixed-term lease early with 60 days' notice. Keep a signed copy of everything — you will want it if a dispute ever reaches the Landlord and Tenant Board.

Fixed-Term, Month-to-Month and Room Rentals

Most first leases in Ontario are for a one-year fixed term. When the term ends you do not have to move out or sign a new lease — the tenancy automatically continues as a month to month lease agreement on the same terms. A room lease agreement works the same way if you rent a self-contained room, but note that if you share a kitchen or bathroom with the owner, the Residential Tenancies Act may not apply to you at all, so put everything in writing. Before you get to the signing stage, it helps to know the market: see our guide to average rent in Toronto and the GTA, and browse apartments for rent in Toronto to compare terms across buildings.

FAQ: Ontario Lease Agreements

What is a lease agreement?

A lease agreement is the contract between a tenant and a landlord covering the unit, term, rent and rules of the tenancy. In Ontario, most private residential tenancies signed since April 30, 2018 must use the government's standard form of lease.

Is the Ontario standard lease mandatory?

Yes — for most private residential tenancies in Ontario the standard lease is mandatory. If your landlord will not provide it within 21 days of a written request, the Residential Tenancies Act allows you to withhold one month's rent.

Where can I download the Ontario lease agreement PDF?

The official Ontario standard lease PDF is free from the Government of Ontario — see the Guide to the Ontario Standard Lease on ontario.ca. You do not need to purchase a template for a standard rental.

What happens when my lease expires in Ontario?

Nothing dramatic — the tenancy automatically becomes month to month on the same terms. Your landlord cannot force you to move out or sign a new fixed term just because the original term ended.

Ready to Sign? Find Your Next Rental First

Understanding the lease is half the job — finding the right unit is the other half. Compare apartments for rent in Toronto, Mississauga and across the GTA on GottaRent, then walk into your signing appointment knowing exactly what the standard lease should say.

Back to blog

Keep reading