Ontario renters, read this before you sign
5 lease clauses that are void in Ontario — even if you signed.
Signing a lease doesn't sign away your rights. Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, a clause that conflicts with the Act can't be enforced — no matter what the paper says. These are the five that show up most often.
Security deposits, key money, and most move-in fees
Damage deposits, pet deposits, "key money," application fees, cleaning deposits — a landlord can't charge any of these. The only deposit Ontario allows is last month's rent, capped at one rent period, and it's applied to your final month.
RTA s.134 (banned charges) · s.106 (rent deposit)
"No pets" clauses
A lease term banning animals is void — the Act says so in plain words. (Condo corporation rules are a separate matter and can bind tenants, so check which document the ban is in.)
RTA s.14
"You must move out when the fixed term ends"
When a one-year lease ends in Ontario, the tenancy automatically continues month-to-month on the same terms. A clause demanding you vacate at the end of the term can't be enforced.
RTA s.38
Entering your unit without notice
Your landlord generally needs 24 hours' written notice stating the reason and a time window before entering. "I can enter anytime" clauses don't override that — only narrow exceptions like emergencies do.
RTA ss.26–27
Sneaky extras in a non-standard lease
Most Ontario tenancies are supposed to use the province's standard form — but even when they don't, the tenancy is still valid, and any extra term that conflicts with the Act is void. A custom lease can't quietly contract around your rights.
RTA s.12.1 (standard form) · s.4 (void terms)
These are the greatest hits. Your lease has its own wording.
That's where the surprises hide — in the custom clauses written just for your unit. Run your lease through the free analyzer and see which of these (and what else) show up in yours.
General information, not legal advice. Rules summarized from the Residential Tenancies Act (Ontario); individual situations vary — community legal clinics (legalaid.on.ca) give free advice if you need it.