House Rentals
Once you have signed the lease you can begin moving into your new home. On the first day that you move in you will be required to fill in a Condition Inspection Report. This helps protect both you and the landlord against any damages that occur during your stay. You will have to walk around the home and carefully inspect any damage that is already in the home. For example, are there cracks in the wall? Do the faucets leak in the bathroom? Do all the doors and windows seal properly? Are there any stains on the carpet? By making note of all these minor damages it ensures that you are not held accountable for them once your lease is over. Although the landlord cannot charge you for general wear and tear on the home, they can take away your deposit money for more serious damage that requires repair.
Paying the Rent
When you sign the rental agreement you will have agreed with the landlord on a payment schedule. Some people pay fortnightly while others will pay monthly or bimonthly. In Canada your rent is considered to be late the day after the stated date that it is due. The specific rules in different territories and provinces vary, for example in some provinces the law requires that landlords give tenants a 3-day grace period to pay the rent.
If you are having trouble paying the rent there are still options to you. Some landlords may be lenient every now and then and give you a little time to get the money together. However, this is not required by them and is totally at their discretion. Most regions have a local rent bank that can help you to pay your rent. If you fail to pay your rent on time the landlord has the right to evict you from the premise – so it is important that you pay on time. It is also important because if you regularly don’t pay your rent on time it will affect your references for future rentals and can harm your credit rating.
