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Living in a Landlord’s Home

If you’ve decided to live in a landlord’s home, there are particular clauses you should include in your contract. Here are some things to think about if you rent a room in a house shared with your landlord.

What to Consider in Your Contract

Before you decide to live in a place also occupied by the landlord, there are two points you should be aware of as they may impact what rights you have in a rental contract.

  • The first is that “Landlord” is not just defined as “the owner of the home” but also refers to the owner’s son/daughter/spouse/parent. So if you were to live with a fellow student whose parents own the home, both the parents and that student would be considered your landlord; many ‘student houses’ will technically fall into this category.
  • If you share the kitchen or bathroom with the “landlord,” then the relationship is exempt from the “Residential Tenancies Act” laws in Ontario.

Therefore, it is important – for both the landlord and the tenant – to have a complete, written agreement in place since this contract is what will govern your rental relationship. You are considered a guest in their home, and they can develop any house rules they choose. Know what those rules are ahead of time, and be sure you can live with them before signing a contract.

As with any rental contract, there are a few basics to be included:

  • The name of the landlord and the name of the renter
  • The address of the property being rented
  • The rental fee amount and when & how often the rent is to be paid
  • The contract’s beginning and end date
  • Signatures of both parties, accepting the terms and conditions, along with the date of signing

Based on experiences we’ve heard about over the years, here are some thoughts about clauses you might want to include in your rental contract:

  • What does each person (owner as well as tenant) expect of the other with respect to:
    • Cleanliness/chores
    • Food and cooking
    • Quiet hours
    • House guests
    • Laundry facilities – restrictions of use?
    • Presence of pets
    • Privacy and rights of entry into certain rooms
  • How much notice does one person need to give the other if someone wants to end the living arrangement prematurely (i.e. can the tenant be evicted? Can the tenant leave earlier?)
  • Clearly state what utilities will be included in the rent or how the utilities will be divided and paid for
  • Clearly state what furniture is included (you may want to take photos to record the condition of the furniture in case damage occurs over time)
  • Who will be responsible for yard maintenance?
  • Any limitations to the use of garage or yard space?

These topics should be discussed and then written into the final agreement. Each person involved should receive a signed copy of their records.

If a disagreement arises (which involves any monetary amounts), recourse can only be sought through the Ontario Small Claims Court (NOT the Landlord & Tenant Board).

Image of a suburban neighbourhood with large homes.