What to look for in a good rental agent

When searching for the right rental agent for your needs, look to others to guide you. Reach out to friends who used an agent to find a rental. Like many service-based industries, rental agencies (and Realtors who also handle rentals) rely on referrals to build their business. Trust your family's and friends' recommendations.

You can also look at reviews and testimonials on third-party websites to see what other people's experiences were like.

Many people use rental agents when moving to a new city or town. If you're unfamiliar with your new city, you want to be sure you're working with someone who knows the area well. This way, when you describe your ideal neighbourhood and your budget, they will know exactly where to look to find your perfect place.

Doing this on your own could be very time-consuming, so it's important to hire a rental agent who can find apartments for rent in Canada that match your needs.

In competitive markets, it can work to your advantage to work with an agent with lots of professional connections. You might find out about new vacancies earlier if you have an agent with connections!

If you're looking for a single-family home, it can be especially useful to work with a rental agent, as they tend to be Realtors who also handle homes for lease in addition to sales.

In Ontario, a tenant usually does not pay a Realtor to find a rental. The landlord pays the commission, commonly around one month's rent, and it is split between the landlord's agent and the tenant's agent. Some apartment-finding agencies work differently and charge the tenant a fee, so ask up front who pays and get it in writing before anyone starts searching for you.

Anyone trading in real estate in Ontario, including rentals, must be registered with the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO). RECO's public registrant search lets you confirm that an agent and their brokerage are registered and shows any discipline history. A good agent will not mind you checking.

If you want to do some preliminary research on available rental apartments in your area, visit Gottarent.com to search. If you're pressed for time, reach out to a rental agent and share the listings you found to see if they can help.