How to Host in Canada

Comprehensive hosting guidance for Canada, including best practices and standard lease form links by province.

Link check date: February 15, 2026. Operational guidance only, not legal advice.

Operating Blueprint

Confirm zoning/use permissions for long-term rentals and any municipal landlord licensing requirements.
Set up business structure, insurance coverage, and banking workflow before first listing.
Build a screening rubric and apply it consistently to avoid ad hoc decisions.
Prepare a province-compliant lease package with schedules (rules, utilities, condition report, move-in checklist).
Define rent collection policy: due date, accepted payment rails, NSFs, and grace/notice workflow.
Create an onboarding package for tenants: emergency contacts, appliance guides, garbage/recycling, and building rules.
Implement preventive maintenance: HVAC, water leaks, safety devices, pest prevention, and seasonal checks.
Set dispute-readiness standards: records, timelines, evidence folder, and adjudication process by province.
Track key metrics: occupancy, arrears rate, turnover cost, response time, and renewal rate.
Review provincial law updates at least quarterly and update lease templates immediately after legal changes.

Best Practices in Canada

Use a written lease every time, even where verbal leases are legally possible.
Run identity, credit, income, and landlord-reference checks consistently and in compliance with human-rights rules.
Document move-in and move-out condition reports with timestamped photos and signed checklists.
Set a clear maintenance SLA (emergency, urgent, routine) and log every request and response.
Use separate trust/accounting treatment for deposits where required by provincial law.
Disclose all house rules, additional terms, and fees in plain language before signing.
Keep auditable records: signed lease, notices, payment ledger, communications, inspection reports, and receipts.
Use written notice templates and serve notices exactly as the province requires.
Create a compliance calendar for rent increases, fixed-term renewal notices, annual safety checks, and tax filings.
Review municipal bylaws (licensing, occupancy, smoke/CO alarms, parking, waste) before listing the unit.

Lease Standards By Province

Province	Requirement	Links	Notes
British Columbia	Government tenancy agreement form is widely used and aligned with BC requirements.	RTB-1 Residential Tenancy Agreement (PDF) BC tenancy forms index	Use RTB-1 for standard residential tenancies; use RTB-5 for manufactured home sites where applicable.
Alberta	No single mandatory provincial standard lease form is prescribed; written agreements should include required terms.	Starting a tenancy (required agreement terms) Landlord and tenant forms/documents	Use a written lease that reflects Alberta Residential Tenancies Act requirements.
Saskatchewan	No single mandatory fillable lease template is provided; every tenancy must include Schedule 1 standard conditions and required terms.	Saskatchewan tenancy agreement requirements Office of Residential Tenancies (ORT)	Use a written lease plus Schedule 1 conditions. Notices/applications are handled through the ORT online portal.
Manitoba	Prescribed standard tenancy agreement forms are available by regulation.	Form 1 Standard Residential Tenancy Agreement (PDF) Form 1.1 (tenant services) (PDF)	For mobile homes/sites, use Form 2.
Ontario	Standard lease is required for most private residential tenancies.	Ontario Standard Lease (Form 2229E, fillable PDF) Ontario standard lease page	Keep a signed copy and provide tenants the completed lease within required timelines.
New Brunswick	Standard Form of Lease is used province-wide for residential rentals.	NB Standard Form of Lease (PDF) NB lease information page	Both landlord and tenant should keep signed copies; all sections are mandatory.
Nova Scotia	Form P standard lease terms apply to residential tenancies in the province.	NS Form P Standard Form of Lease (PDF) Nova Scotia Form P overview	The conditions in Form P apply even where another lease template is used.
Prince Edward Island	Standard Form of Tenancy Agreement (Form 1) is available from the rental office.	PEI Form 1 Standard Form of Tenancy Agreement (PDF) PEI forms index	Use current Form 1 and keep signed copies with all schedules attached.
Newfoundland and Labrador	Standard Rental Agreement form is published for use under the Residential Tenancies Act.	NL Standard Rental Agreement (PDF) NL landlord and tenant resources	Use the standard agreement as the base and include any additional lawful terms in writing.