Your lease is an extremely important document – it is the legal contract that outlines the responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant. Most apartment leases include information about:

• Your landlord’s contact information
• Your complete mailing address for your new apartment
• The dates your tenancy begins and ends
• Your total rental costs and what exactly is included with your rent
• The amount of the security deposit
• Rules, regulations and tenant policies

It’s no secret that leases can be intimidating – they can be quite long and the language is often very confusing. As a result, many people will sign the lease without actually reading – or understanding – the entire document. Landlords can include all sorts of different provisions in the lease, and once you sign it, these terms are legally binding. That’s why it’s important to take as much time as you need to understand your apartment lease. By doing so, you will be much better prepared to handle any conflicts or problems that may come up during your tenancy.

Analyze, Ask, Compromise

When you first receive your lease, analyze every single word of it – if you don’t understand a particular phrase or clause, don’t ignore it! Ask your landlord for clarification. And if you don't agree with a certain provision, see if you and your landlord can reach a compromise. However, if any changes are made to the lease, be sure to have every new agreement written into the lease, signed and dated by both you and your landlord.

Be aware that any agreements cannot contradict government legislation – in Ontario, the Residential Tenancies Act takes precedent over any clause or provision written into a lease, even if both the landlord and tenant agree to it.

Remember, always save a copy of the final lease (and make sure each tenant in the apartment signs and has their own copy), as this is the most important document when it comes to settling a disagreement. You’ll also need your lease to present proof of residence when applying for everything from bank accounts to library cards, registering to vote, etc.

Things to Look For in Your Lease

Be sure to look for the following things in your lease:

• Will you have to pay a security deposit? If so, will cleaning costs and other fees be deducted from your deposit over the course of the lease?
• Are there provisions against subletting your apartment?
• Are you allowed to keep pets or other animals in your apartment?
• How much advance notice must you give before moving out at the end of your term?
• What responsibilities do you have when it comes time to finally move out? Will you have to shampoo the carpets and scrub the walls? Or does the landlord handle all of that work?

Depending on what exactly you’re looking for in an apartment rental, there might be several other areas you’ll want to investigate before signing the lease. Remember, you’ll have to live according to the rules and regulations laid out in your lease – always make sure you know what you’re getting into before you rent an apartment.


Looking for an apartment for rent in Ottawa? Paramount Properties is Ottawa’s second largest residential property management company. With more than 6,500 Ottawa apartment rentals available in some of the city’s finest locations, we’re your #1 choice for an Ottawa apartment.