Free · September 2026 edition

The Ontario Landlord Starter Kit

The rules, the paperwork and the checklist for leasing a unit in Waterloo Region, written for landlords who would rather get it right the first time than learn it at the Landlord and Tenant Board.

  • Pricing from comparables and the Waterloo licence check
  • The Ontario Standard Lease and what is void
  • Deposits and fees: allowed and not allowed
  • Screening without breaking the Human Rights Code
  • The 2026 rent guideline and the post-2018 exemption
  • Bill 60 notice changes and current LTB wait times
  • The HST rental rebate steps for new builds
  • Move-in day checklist and a market snapshot
Starter kit

Get the kit

Opens instantly and lands in your inbox. Print it or keep the link.

Why it exists

Most landlord mistakes are paperwork mistakes

A damage deposit, an application fee, a wrong notice period, a screening question the Human Rights Code does not allow. None of them feel like a big deal at the kitchen table, and every one of them is a refund order, a dismissed application or a complaint later. The kit puts the rules in one place, dated, with sources, so you can lease a unit properly whether or not you ever use the desk.

Written for

First-time and small landlords

One condo, a basement suite, a duplex, or a new build you bought as an investment.

Region

Waterloo Region, Ontario rules

Provincial law plus the City of Waterloo licence rules that tightened on July 1, 2026, and a local market snapshot.

Kept current

Dated and sourced

Every rule carries its source and date. The September 2026 edition includes the Bill 60 changes and what is still scheduled.

Keep exploring

The Investor Landlord DeskWhat the desk does for one fee, paid only when your lease is signed. Landlord and renter FAQWho pays, what deposits are legal, how screening works, the HST rebate. Cashflow and affordability toolsRun the numbers on a unit before you buy it or lease it.