Find and rent housing in Northern Ontario

The basics: your rights as a tenant

Most apartments, houses, and basement units in Ontario are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (RTA). Disputes are decided by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB), an independent tribunal. Landlords can't evict you with a written notice alone — they need an LTB order. Maximum fines under the RTA: $50,000 for an individual landlord, $250,000 for a corporation.

LTB contact: 1-888-332-3234 · Mon–Fri 8:30 am to 5:00 pm · tribunalsontario.ca/ltb

The standard lease (Form 2229E)

For most residential leases signed on or after April 30, 2018, the landlord must use Ontario's Standard Form of Lease. It's a plain-language form and is available free in many languages from Ontario.ca. Always insist on a written, signed standard lease — verbal agreements are legal but harder to enforce.

What deposits are legal

• Last month's rent deposit — legal, max one month's rent. The landlord must pay you interest on it once a year.
• Key deposit — legal, but only equal to actual key replacement cost.
• Security or damage deposits — illegal in Ontario.
• Pet deposits — illegal.
• Demands for 6 or 12 months of rent up front — illegal.

If a landlord asks for an "extra" deposit on top of first + last, they're breaking the law. Walk away or report them.

What does rent cost?

Average rents in Northern Ontario as of October 2025 (CMHC Rental Market Survey):

City	1-Bedroom	2-Bedroom
Thunder Bay	$1,173	$1,493
Greater Sudbury	$1,244	$1,555
Sault Ste. Marie	$1,167	$1,394
North Bay	$1,078	$1,404

Older buildings and units further from downtown are usually cheaper; downtown condos are pricier.

Where to look for listings

• Kijiji — largest Northern Ontario inventory
• Facebook Marketplace + local rental groups (search "Thunder Bay Rentals", "Sudbury Apartments", etc.)
• Realtor.ca — agent-listed rentals
• PadMapper, Rentals.ca, Zumper — aggregators
• Settlement.org — newcomer-focused listings + multilingual "Understanding For Rent Ads" guide
• If you're a student: Lakehead, Laurentian, Algoma, and Nipissing all have off-campus housing boards

What landlords can — and can't — ask

Allowed: rental references, employment verification, credit check (with your consent), proof of income, photo ID after you've signed.

NOT allowed under the Ontario Human Rights Code:

• Questions about your citizenship or immigration status
• Refusing you because you're new to Canada or have no Canadian credit history
• Discrimination based on race, religion, country of origin, family status, age, disability, or receipt of public assistance

If a landlord says "no PR, no rent" or refuses you because you're a newcomer, that's illegal discrimination. You can file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Commission or the LTB.

What if I don't have Canadian credit history?

This is the most common newcomer roadblock. Ways around it:

• Get a guarantor — a Canadian friend, family member, or employer co-signs (legal, common)
• Voluntarily offer a few months' rent in advance — your choice, not the landlord's demand
• Provide an employer letter stating salary and start date
• Show proof of savings — bank statements work fine
• Use Nova Credit or Equifax Global Consumer Solutions — they translate international credit history into a format Canadian landlords recognize

How rent increases work

Rent increases are capped by an annual Provincial Rent Increase Guideline:

• 2025: 2.5%
• 2026: 2.1%

This applies to most units first occupied before November 15, 2018. Newer units are exempt and the landlord can raise rent by any amount (with proper notice).

For all rentals, the landlord must give 90 days' written notice on the official LTB form, and at least 12 months must have passed since the last increase or your move-in.

If your landlord violates your rights

You can file a complaint with the LTB using these forms (all on tribunalsontario.ca):

• T1 — recover money the landlord owes (e.g., illegal deposit)
• T2 — landlord harassed you, locked you out, or interfered with your enjoyment of the unit
• T6 — maintenance and repair issues

Filing fees can be waived for low-income applicants. Free legal help is available through Steps to Justice, CLEO, and local Community Legal Clinics (Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay; Sudbury Community Legal Clinic in Sudbury).

Common scams and pitfalls

• Wire transfer scams — never send money before viewing the unit in person (or live video at minimum)
• "Owner is overseas" excuses for not meeting in person — almost always a scam
• Cash-only with no receipt — by law, the landlord must give you a free rent receipt on request
• Verbal-only agreements — legal but risky. Insist on the standard lease in writing
• Not asking about utilities — confirm whether heat, water, hydro, internet are included

Tenant insurance

Not required by law, but most landlords make it a lease condition. Strongly recommended even when not required — covers your belongings if there's a fire or flood, and protects you from liability if you accidentally damage the building. Typical cost: $20–35/month.

Last reviewed: April 2026. Average rents from CMHC's October 2025 Rental Market Survey. Rent increase guideline confirmed at Ontario.ca.