A practical sequence for renters. Provincial tenancy law is specific — use official sources, not this page, for rights and forms.
Open For Rent search so sale listings stay out of the way. Note total occupancy cost: rent, utilities, parking, and laundry. Photos are marketing; visit or video-walk the unit before you send a deposit.
Landlords commonly ask for government ID, proof of income or enrolment, references, and a completed application. Never send copies of unused credit cards or full SIN unless a lawful process truly requires it — ask why a document is needed.
Provincial hubs collect official form links. Read those sources; PropertyBin does not interpret statutes.
Submit what was requested, keep copies, and get the landlord legal name. A rushed pay-now-to-hold-the-unit pitch is a red flag, especially off-platform wires.
Pressure to skip a viewing. Rent far below nearby comps with a story about being overseas. Requests to pay a deposit before you have a written agreement. Listings that refuse any paper trail.
Report suspicious listings through Help / support.
Read the whole agreement: term, rent, what is included, entry rules, and how to give notice. Take dated photos at move-in. Condition and deposit rules are provincial — check the documents hub before you assume Ontario practice applies elsewhere.
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