Ontario Standard Lease: What Must Be Included

The Standard Lease Is Mandatory

Since April 2018, all new residential tenancies in Ontario must use the Ontario Standard Lease (Form 2229E). If a landlord doesn't provide one, the tenant can request it in writing, and the landlord must provide it within 21 days — or the tenant can withhold one month's rent.

Required Contents

• Full legal names of landlord and tenant
• Complete address of the rental unit
• Lease term (fixed-term or month-to-month)
• Rent amount and due date
• Included services and utilities (parking, laundry, hydro, etc.)
• Deposit information (maximum of first and last month's rent)

Illegal Clauses

Even if written into the lease, the following clauses are unenforceable:

• No-pet clauses (unenforceable in Ontario)
• Requiring deposits beyond first and last month's rent
• Restricting guest visits
• Requiring tenants to pay for all repairs