Tenancy guide
Ontario: Rental Inspection and Deposit Rules
Ontario law does not require a move-in or move-out inspection, so your own dated photos may be the only record of the unit’s condition.
Last reviewed October 19, 2026
- Governing law
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Where disputes are heard
- Landlord and Tenant Board
Deposits
- The only deposit a landlord can collect is a rent deposit of no more than one month’s rent (or one rent period, if shorter), plus a refundable key deposit no greater than the cost of replacing the keys. Damage deposits are not allowed.
- The rent deposit must be applied to the last rent period of the tenancy, and the landlord must pay you interest on it every year at the rent increase guideline rate.
Inspections and the unit’s condition
- Neither the landlord nor the tenant is required to inspect the unit at move-in or move-out.
- A landlord who wants to enter to inspect the unit’s state of repair must give you written notice at least 24 hours before entry, except in situations the Act allows, such as an emergency.
- You are responsible for undue damage caused wilfully or negligently by you, another occupant or someone you let in. You are not responsible for normal wear and tear.
Disputes
- A landlord can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for the cost of repairing undue damage, including against a former tenant, up to one year after the tenant moves out.
- Your dated photos from move-in and move-out help show whether damage was already there, or is only normal wear and tear.
How LeaseWit helps
- Photograph every room at move-in and move-out. Each photo is saved with the date and time it was added to LeaseWit.
- Compare move-in and move-out side by side to show what changed, and what didn’t.
- Keep a PDF report ready to share with your landlord or file with an application to the Board.