Landlording in Canada Kit
Michael Drouillard, JD
Self-Counsel Press (a division of) International Self-Counsel Press Ltd. USA Canada
Copyright © 2020
International Self-Counsel Press All rights reserved.
Contents
PART 1: BEFORE PLACING THE “FOR RENT” AD
Chapter 1: PREPARING FOR A NEW TENANCY
Is Your Rental Ready for Viewing?
What are Some Common Basics Tenants Expect out of a Rental?
Renovations That Pay for Themselves
Chapter 2: SECONDARY SUITES: PREVENTING PROBLEMS BEFORE THEY START
Excessive Sound Transfer
Sharing Laundry
Ambiguous Boundaries Between Exclusive-Use and Common Areas
Property Maintenance and Secondary Suites
Payment of Utilities
Overwhelmed? You Don’t Need to Be!
Chapter 3: HOW TO DETERMINE RENTAL VALUE
TABLE 1: NEIGHBOURHOOD COMPARISON
How Do Pet or Smoking Restrictions Affect Rental Value?
I’ve Determined Market Value for My Rental Property, but What Do I Do in a Weak Rental Market?
Furnished Rentals
Chapter 4: LANDLORDING ESSENTIAL: MEMBERSHIP IN A LANDLORD ASSOCIATION
Types of Insurance
Liability Insurance
Chapter 6: KNOW THE LAW — AT LEAST KNOW THE BASICS
Human Rights Legislation
Privacy Law
Never Accept Tenancy Law Advice from Your Tenant
Chapter 7: START YOUR TENANCY ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE RIGHT FORMS
The Application Form
SAMPLE 1: RESIDENTIAL TENANCY APPLICATION
Receipt Book
Other Forms Required by Your Strata/Condominium Corporation
Other Legal Forms Required by Your Province
Move-In/Move-Out Inspection Form
Proof of Authority to Rent the Property
The Rental Agreement
Rental Agreements and Secondary Suites
Month-to-Month Agreements versus Fixed-Term Leases
Other Important Clauses
PART 2: HOW TO FIND A GREAT TENANT
Chapter 8: PLACING THE “FOR RENT” AD
The Newspaper Classified Ad
What Should Be in the Ad?
Placing Your “For Rent” Ad Online
Chapter 9: AN INTRODUCTION TO TELEPHONE SCREENING
How to Prevent No-Show Appointments
Chapter 10: SHOWING THE HOME AND CLOSING THE DEAL
Stay Safe!
Getting the Application Signed
What if the Applicant Refuses to Give His or Her Social Insurance Number?
Stop Good Tenants from Looking Elsewhere after Filling Out Your Application
Chapter 11: MINIMIZING YOUR RISK: EFFECTIVE TENANT APPLICATION ANALYSIS
The Initial Review of the Application Form
The Credit Report and Why It Means So Much
Secondary Screening Measures
Tenant Applications That Are Difficult to Assess
Let’s Put Theory into Practice!
Case Study #1: Renting Out a Basement Suite
Case Study #2: Renting Out a New Townhouse
Chapter 12: WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU CAN’T FIND A TENANT THAT MEETS YOUR REQUIREMENTS?
How Does Your Rental Show?
Is It Overpriced?
Incentives, Marketing, and Other Potential Issues
Never Lower Your Standards
Chapter 13: HOW TO REJECT A TENANT APPLICATION
Learn from the Master of Rejection: The Bank
Rejected Applications and Application Deposits
My Final Word on Discrimination
Chapter 14: HOW TO ACCEPT A TENANT: WHAT TO DO FROM THE FIRST MEETING TO MOVE-IN DAY
What to Do When You Call the Accepted Applicant
What to Do at the Meeting with Your Newly Accepted Tenant
Move-In Day
Success!
PART 3: AFTER THE TENANT MOVES IN
Chapter 15: PROPERTY MAINTENANCE MADE EASY
Property Maintenance for Small Rental Properties
Preventive Maintenance
What If the Tenant Wants to Renovate the Home, or Offers to Perform Repairs (with the Landlord Paying the Cost of Labour and Materials)?
What about Emergency Repairs?
What If the