CHAPTER 8: THINGS TO CONSIDER

There are some things you will need to keep in mind before moving into your new home.

Pets

Landlords cannot evict tenants for having a pet; however, they can refuse to rent to you in the first place. However, if you are renting a condo, the Condominium Corporation bylaws take precedence over the Residential Tenancies Act. This means that the condominium management can evict your pet.

Note: service animals are not considered pets.

Liability insurance (mandatory – depending on landlord)

This insurance policy covers the cost of repairing or replacing damaged property belonging to the landlord. It also covers you in the event a claim is made against you involving bodily injury to others at your home. Some landlords will require you to obtain and maintain liability insurance coverage for the duration of your tenancy. Your landlord will request a copy of proof of coverage if they have made liability insurance a condition of your lease.

Content insurance (optional)

Your landlord will have a homeowner’s insurance policy on the property you are moving into. However, this policy does not cover your personal belongings as a tenant. You therefore are advised to obtain a content insurance policy (or renters insurance policy). This insurance will cover the cost of replacing your valuable items should anything happen to the home you are renting (such as theft, fire, water damage, etc.)

Note:

• You can often bundle both liability and content insurance into one insurance policy, often called ‘tenant’s insurance’.
• The law does not require a tenant to have tenant insurance and your landlord cannot force you to get it. However, if you agreed to get tenant insurance as part of your lease agreement and then you don’t do it, your landlord could give you a notice to terminate the tenancy and then file an application with the LTB to evict you.

Take photos of the condition of the property

It’s a good idea to take photos of the condition of the property before you move your belongings and furniture in. This protects you when you decide to move to a new home from excess wear and tear charges or other claims for damages to the property. Ensure you take high quality photos that are time and date stamped. Keep a copy of these photos in a safe place for your reference and send a copy of the photos to your landlord for their reference.