Landlords in Canada are pretty much the same as the landlords anywhere else in the world. There may be slight differences but almost all the same. We all know the job is not simple, and it’s not at all smooth sailing. Anyone who wishes to enter the rental business should first know the fundamental obligations of property managers, as well as their rights. It is also part of your job as a leasing agent to know them too. So let us identify them one by one, shall we?

Landlord Obligations

To let you know, the Residential Tenancies Act constituted the obligations and rights of landlords and tenants. Landlords are responsible for the overall handling of the property. It means their role includes making sure the property is habitable, which means it is safe and suitable for occupancy. To determine this, the landlord has to ensure that he follows the health and safety housing standards.

The property managers should also address any issues and concerns regarding the property and tenants. They are obligated to repair any damages related to the unit, particularly those which can cause harm to the occupants.

Once the landlord fails to uphold his end of the deal, the tenants can file a complaint against him. In other scenarios, if they violate the tenants’ rights, the renters can sue the landlord. The Rental Housing Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is available to receive these problems and will investigate them. The Enforcement Unit is also responsible for resolving the existing conflict among the tenants and landlord. If the situation warrants it, they can take the violator to court.

Landlord Rights

Of course, we also have to give importance to the landlords’ rights. The tenants have to respect them and abide by them. One is the right to choose their tenants after a thorough screening process, in which they will perform background and credit checks. The criteria are in the Ontario Human Rights Code. The landlord is not required to approve the first application they receive because they need to consider the qualifications.

They have the right to collect the rental payment on the due date. The business will flop if the tenants refuse to pay, and it is the landlord’s right to ask for it. The tenants cannot complain if they need to settle their rent.

The landlords have the right to evict the tenant if they prove to be a nuisance. There are several reasons for a landlord to kick a tenant out of a rental property. But it is not a simple process. The landlord has to have valid grounds to evict a tenant. Some examples are the inability to pay the rent, knowingly causing damages, or doing illegal acts inside the rental. Anything that breaches the contract is a valid reason for evicting a tenant.

According to the Residential Tenancies Act, the landlord has the right to enter an occupied rental. But within reason, of course. He can enter the premises for inspections, repairs, and other significant purposes. The landlord would need to notify the tenants early on and get their permission. The exception to this is during emergencies.

As of September 1, 2021, there have been additional landlord rights. One of them is asking for additional payment for expenses paid for by the landlord caused by the tenants or anyone visiting the rental.

You must know the tenants’ rights, as well as the landlords’. It will help you navigate your way through the proceedings and negotiations in the rental business. It will also help you identify the dos and don’ts in protecting your clients’ rights.

Now that you know more about this, you can manage your patrons effectively. But first, you need to sign up for Padleads. It’s an online platform that will let you post your property listings for everyone to see. And even better, you can syndicate the listings to other web pages online.