Landlord checklist

Checklist for landlords beginning a tenancy

Starting a new tenancy? Use the checklist below to set your tenancy up for success and avoid any problems later on.

• Before choosing a tenant

  • Have you carried out reference checks?
  • Have you searched the RTB website for all dispute outcomes involving the tenant?
  • Have you familiarised yourself with your rights and responsibilities as well as your tenant’s rights and responsibilities?

• Deposits

  • Do you have a written record of the deposit paid by the tenant?
  • Have you given the tenant a receipt for the deposit?
  • Have you told the tenant who will hold the security deposit and who will return it?

• Tenancy agreement

  • Do you have a written tenancy agreement?
  • Does your agreement include all of the following?
    • Basic terms of the agreement, property, landlord and tenant details
    • Payments and payment methods for rent and deposits
    • Tenant’s responsibilities
    • Landlord’s responsibilities
    • Any additional terms that apply to the agreement
    • Ending the tenancy
    • Serving notice or documents to the tenant
    • Preventing disputes
    • Signatures
  • Have you provided the tenant with a copy of the agreement before the start of the tenancy?

• Inventory and records

  • Have you completed a list of contents and their condition (inventory report) signed by both parties? Do you have dated photos to accompany the list?
  • Have you provided the tenant with a rent book and receipts (if rent not being paid electronically)?

• Required documents and contact information

  • Have you provided the tenant with your contact details (and your agent’s contact details if using one)?
  • Have you got the tenant’s contact number and PPS number? A PPS number can help the RTB to find your tenant if you take a dispute case against them in future.

• If the property is in a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ)

  Have you given the tenant a statement outlining:

  • The last rent amount
  • The date it was last set
  • Details of how their rent was set using the RPZ calculator?

• Final step

  • Have you registered the tenancy  in your registration account?