Lease agreement template
A simple residential rental agreement you can fill and sign.
Looking for a lease agreement template for Ontario? Read the first section before you fill anything: most residential tenancies in Ontario must use the government's Standard Form of Lease, and this template is meant for the situations that form does not cover, and for other provinces and US states with no set form.
Opens a fillable version in your browser. Free, no account, nothing uploaded.
Fields in this form
- Landlord name
- Tenant name
- Property address
- Lease start date
- Lease end date
- Monthly rent
- Deposit
- Terms and conditions
- Landlord signature
- Tenant signature
About the lease agreement
A lease agreement sets out the terms between a landlord and a tenant: the property, the rent, the term, and the rules both sides agree to.
This fillable template covers the core terms and gives both parties a clean PDF to sign and keep.
When you need it
- Renting out a property to a new tenant.
- Renewing or updating an existing rental.
- You want the basic terms written down and signed.
Where it stands legally
Ontario: the provincial Standard Form of Lease is required for most residential tenancy agreements signed on or after April 30, 2018. The standard lease does not apply to care homes, sites in mobile home parks and land lease communities, most social and supportive housing, certain other special tenancies, and co-operative housing. The landlord must give the tenant a copy of the signed agreement within 21 days after the tenant signs. Any extra term that tries to take away a right or responsibility under the Residential Tenancies Act is void. If you are renting out an ordinary house, condo or apartment in Ontario, download the standard lease from ontario.ca and use this template only for the additional terms section, or not at all.
Ontario rent deposits: a rent deposit can only be applied to the last month (or week) of rent, cannot be more than one month's rent for a monthly tenancy, and the landlord must pay interest on it each year. A rent deposit cannot be used as a damage deposit.
Other provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Quebec and others each have their own tenancy statute and, in some cases, a required form or mandatory clauses. Check the provincial tenancy branch before you rely on a general template.
United States: there is no federal lease form. Each state sets rules on security deposit caps, required disclosures (lead paint for pre-1978 housing is a federal one), late fees and notice periods. A general template works in many states for a straightforward rental, but the disclosures are state-specific.
A written, signed lease is a contract. What makes it enforceable is clear terms, both signatures, and terms that do not conflict with the tenancy law where the property is. Where a term conflicts with the law, the law wins.
General information, not legal advice. Rules differ by province, state and city, and they change. Confirm the current rule where the document will be used.
What each field means and how to fill it
| Field | What it means | How to fill it |
|---|---|---|
| Landlord name | The owner or the person legally entitled to rent out the unit. | Use the full legal name or the company name. If a property manager signs, name the landlord and the manager. |
| Tenant name | Everyone who will be responsible for the rent. | List each adult tenant. Occupants who are not responsible for rent can be listed in the terms. |
| Property address | The unit being rented. | Full address with unit number. Note included parking, locker or storage in the terms. |
| Lease start date | The first day of the tenancy. | Usually the first day rent is due and the tenant gets keys. |
| Lease end date | The last day of a fixed term. | For a month-to-month tenancy, write month to month here instead of a date. In Ontario a fixed term usually continues month to month after it ends. |
| Monthly rent | The amount due each period. | Write the amount, the due date, and what it includes (heat, hydro, water, internet). |
| Deposit | Money held at the start of the tenancy. | Say what kind it is. In Ontario only a rent deposit for the last month is allowed, capped at one month's rent. |
| Terms and conditions | Everything specific to this rental. | Utilities, pets, smoking, parking, snow and lawn, who to contact for repairs, and how notice is given. Keep each rule to one sentence. |
| Landlord and tenant signatures | What turns the document into an agreement. | All named tenants and the landlord sign and date. Each party keeps a full copy. |
How to fill this out
- 1Confirm which form you need. For an ordinary Ontario residential rental, that is the government standard lease, not this template.
- 2Enter the landlord and every responsible tenant exactly as their names appear on ID.
- 3Fill in the full property address, the start date, and either an end date or month to month.
- 4Enter the rent, the due date, what the rent includes, and the deposit with its purpose.
- 5Use the terms field for utilities, pets, parking, maintenance and notice rules. Avoid anything that conflicts with tenancy law where the property is.
- 6Have everyone sign, download the PDF, and give each party a complete copy.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using a general template in Ontario when the standard lease is required. Sections of the standard lease are mandatory and cannot be changed.
- Collecting a damage deposit in Ontario, where only a rent deposit for the last month is allowed.
- Leaving utilities unassigned, which is the most common source of disputes in the first winter.
- Writing a fixed end date and assuming the tenant must leave then. In many places the tenancy continues month to month.
- Adding a clause that waives a legal right (for example, banning all guests or promising no repairs). Those clauses are void and can hurt the landlord's position.
- Only one party keeping a signed copy.
What makes it hold up, and when you need a lawyer
Usually fine with this template
- Rentals outside Ontario in a province or state with no mandatory form, where the deposit, notice and disclosure rules have been checked.
- Ontario tenancies the standard lease does not cover, such as some care home or co-op arrangements, once you have confirmed the exemption applies.
- Room rentals where the owner shares a kitchen or bathroom with the renter. In Ontario those are outside the Residential Tenancies Act, so a written agreement is what governs.
Use the official form or get advice
- Any ordinary Ontario residential tenancy: use the government's Standard Form of Lease from ontario.ca.
- Commercial space, which is governed by different law and needs a different agreement. See the commercial lease form on this site.
- Rent-to-own, leases with an option to buy, or any lease longer than a few years.
- Rentals with a live-in caregiver, a farm, or a property with a business attached.
Worked example (illustrative)
Made-up names and figures to show what a completed lease agreement looks like. Not a real transaction.
| Residential lease, illustrative (province without a mandatory form) | |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Northgate Holdings Ltd. |
| Tenants | Daniel Okafor and Leah Okafor |
| Property | Unit 7, 210 Example Avenue, plus parking space 7 |
| Term | November 1, 2026 to October 31, 2027, then month to month |
| Rent | $2,100.00 per month, due on the 1st, includes water; tenant pays electricity and internet |
| Deposit | $2,100.00 rent deposit applied to the last month of the tenancy |
| Terms | One cat permitted. No smoking. Tenant clears snow from the unit entrance. Repairs reported by email to the landlord. |
In Ontario the same rental would be written on the standard lease form, with the pet, smoking and snow terms in its additional terms section.
Related official forms, tools and guides
- Lease agreement template guide: clause-by-clause walkthrough
- Month-to-month lease agreement: when there is no fixed end date
- Rental application form: screen applicants before you sign
- Commercial lease agreement: for shops, offices and units used for business
- Rent receipt template
- Sublease agreement template
- Real estate PDF tools
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the Ontario standard lease?
For most residential tenancies in Ontario signed on or after April 30, 2018, yes. It is the government's Standard Form of Lease and its sections are mandatory. Exceptions include care homes, mobile home park sites and land lease communities, most social and supportive housing, and co-op housing.
So when is this template useful in Ontario?
For rentals the standard lease does not cover, and for drafting the additional terms you plan to attach to the standard lease. Any extra term that takes away a right under the Residential Tenancies Act is void.
What happens if an Ontario landlord does not give a copy of the lease?
The landlord must give the tenant a copy within 21 days after the tenant signs. If you did not get a standard lease when you were entitled to one, the ontario.ca guide explains the steps you can take, starting with a written request.
Can I take a damage deposit?
Not in Ontario. Only a rent deposit for the last month is allowed, capped at one month's rent, and the landlord pays interest on it yearly. Other provinces and US states have their own caps and rules.
Can I add my own clauses?
Yes, use the terms field. Keep clauses specific and make sure none conflicts with the tenancy law where the property is, because those clauses are unenforceable.
Can I use this for a commercial rental?
No. Commercial leases are governed by different law and cover things like fit-out, percentage rent and assignment. Use the commercial lease form on this site and have it reviewed.
Does the lease end on the end date?
Not automatically in many places. In Ontario a fixed-term tenancy continues month to month on the same terms unless it is ended properly. Check the rule where the property is.
Sources checked
- Government of Ontario, Guide to Ontario's standard lease (required for most tenancies signed on or after April 30, 2018; exemptions; 21-day copy rule; void extra terms)
- Landlord and Tenant Board, A Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act (rent deposit limits and interest)
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
Checked 2026-09-19. This page is general information and not legal, tax or financial advice.