How to Rent Out Your House in London, Ontario: A Step-by-Step Guide

You own a house or unit in London, Ontario. Now you need a tenant. Whether you inherited the property, bought it as an investment, or are renting out your old home after moving, the process is the same — and the Ontario rules that govern it apply from day one.

This guide walks you through every step: pricing the unit, preparing it, listing it, running showings, screening applicants, signing the lease, and handling move-in. Each step matters. Skipping one creates a problem later.

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Step 1: Know What You Need to Do Before You List

Before you take any photos or post an ad, two things need to be in order.

Get the right licence

The City of London requires most residential rental properties to hold a Rental Housing Licence. If your property is a single-family home rented to one household, you may fall under the exemption — but if you're renting a secondary suite, a multi-tenant unit, or anything with a shared entrance, you almost certainly need one. Operating without a licence exposes you to fines and can create complications at the LTB if a dispute arises.

Read the full breakdown in City of London Rental Unit Licence before you list.

Get landlord insurance

Your existing homeowner's policy does not cover a tenanted property. Call your broker before the first showing and confirm your coverage is updated. Insurance affects what you can claim on your taxes, what protection you have against tenant damage, and what happens if there's a liability claim. This is not optional.

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Step 2: Price the Unit

Pricing is the single biggest factor in how quickly you find a tenant. A well-maintained unit priced $150 over market sits empty for two months. The same unit priced accurately rents in two weeks.

How to find the right price for London:

Start with what comparable units are actually renting for — not asking price, but achieved rent. Check Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace, and Rentals.ca for London listings in the same neighbourhood, same bedroom count, and similar finish level.

As a rough reference range for London in 2026:

• Bachelor/studio: $1,300–$1,550/month
• 1-bedroom: $1,600–$1,900/month
• 2-bedroom: $2,000–$2,400/month
• 3-bedroom house: $2,400–$2,900/month

These ranges shift by neighbourhood. A 2-bedroom near Western University commands different rent than a 2-bedroom in East London or Strathroy. Use the comps in your specific area — not city-wide averages.

Factors that justify pricing at the top of the range:

• Updated kitchen or bathroom
• In-unit laundry
• Parking included
• Central air conditioning
• Recently renovated finishes

Factors that push you toward the middle:

• No parking or street parking only
• Shared laundry
• Basement unit with lower ceiling height
• Older fixtures in functional condition

Price realistically from day one. Dropping the price after two weeks of no inquiries wastes time and signals desperation to applicants who were watching the listing.

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Step 3: Prepare the Unit

A clean, well-presented unit rents faster, attracts better applicants, and sets the right expectation for how you expect the unit to be returned.

Before listing, complete the following:

• Clean thoroughly. Every surface, every appliance, every corner. The standard is "cleaner than the last tenant left it."
• Touch up paint. Scuffs, marks, and holes from previous fixtures should be patched and painted. Use the same colour throughout a room.
• Fix what's broken. Any item that doesn't work needs to be repaired or replaced. A broken exhaust fan, a dripping tap, or a door that won't latch are red flags for applicants and potential maintenance complaints once tenanted.
• Check smoke alarms and CO detectors. Ontario law requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside every sleeping area. Carbon monoxide detectors are required if there's an attached garage or fuel-burning appliance. Test them all.
• Replace worn items. A dated shower curtain, cracked outlet covers, and a broken blinds slat cost very little to fix and disproportionately affect first impressions.

The goal is not a renovation — it's a unit that a reasonable tenant would find well-maintained and cared for.

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Step 4: Take Good Photos

Your photos determine whether applicants book a showing. Most landlords underinvest here. You don't need a professional photographer, but you do need decent lighting and care.

Photo checklist:

• Shoot during the day with natural light. Open every blind and curtain.
• Take horizontal (landscape) photos — these display better on listing sites.
• Clear all personal items, clutter, and anything left by a previous tenant.
• Capture every room: all bedrooms, both sides of the kitchen, bathroom(s), living area, any outdoor space, parking area, laundry if in-unit.
• Include a photo of the building exterior so applicants can confirm the address.
• Photograph the storage area, if applicable.

At minimum: 8–12 photos. A listing with three photos gets fewer inquiries than an identical listing with twelve.

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Step 5: Write the Listing

Your listing needs to answer the questions every applicant has before they decide whether to book a showing.

Include in every listing:

• Rent amount and what's included (utilities, parking, internet)
• Bedrooms and bathrooms
• Square footage (if known)
• Lease start date
• Whether pets are permitted (note: a no-pets clause is unenforceable in Ontario under the RTA — see below)
• Whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished
• Laundry: in-unit, shared, or coin-op
• Parking: included, street, or unavailable
• Brief description of the neighbourhood and transit access

Keep the description factual. Describe the unit, not the ideal applicant. Ontario's Human Rights Code prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, family status, disability, and other protected grounds. You cannot describe who you are looking for — only what the unit offers. A listing that says "perfect for a young professional" crosses into territory that can generate a complaint.

A word on pets: Under RTA Section 14, any lease clause prohibiting or restricting animals is void. You cannot refuse to rent to someone because they have a pet, once a tenancy is established. You can, however, decline an applicant during the screening process before signing the lease. See No-Pets Clause in Ontario Rentals for the full breakdown.

Where to list:

• Kijiji (high volume in London market)
• Facebook Marketplace and local Facebook rental groups
• Rentals.ca
• PadMapper (aggregates multiple sources)
• Zumper

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Step 6: Run Showings

Showings are where you evaluate applicants and applicants evaluate you. Both sides are forming an impression.

Logistics:

• Schedule showings in blocks when possible — back-to-back 30-minute windows — rather than scattering them across the week.
• Be on time. A landlord who is late to their own showing signals disorganization.
• Bring a printed application form or have a digital version ready to share.

During the showing:

• Point out features that don't photograph well (closet space, storage, outdoor access).
• Mention anything the applicant will encounter that isn't immediately visible (shared laundry schedule, parking layout, how maintenance requests work).
• Answer questions directly. If you don't know something, say so.

What you should NOT do:

• Ask about family status, national origin, religion, disability, or any other protected ground under the Human Rights Code.
• Comment on who else is applying or how competitive the unit is (this creates pressure and can backfire).
• Accept cash or a verbal agreement at the showing — everything goes through a written application and signed lease.

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Step 7: Screen Applicants

Screening is where you protect yourself. It's also where most first-time landlords make mistakes — either too little due diligence or questions that create liability.

What you can and should ask for:

• Completed rental application with current employer, previous landlords, and references
• Credit check authorization — you need written consent before pulling credit. Services like Equifax or TransUnion Canada offer landlord credit check products. Some landlords use Certn or similar tenant screening platforms.
• Employment verification — a recent pay stub, offer letter, or employer contact who can confirm tenure and income
• Reference checks — call the previous landlord, not just the current one. The current landlord may want to move the tenant out.
• Government-issued ID — to confirm identity

What you're looking for:

• Consistent employment or verifiable income
• Positive references from previous landlords
• No significant unpaid collections (especially rent-related)
• Income that covers rent comfortably — a common benchmark is that rent should not exceed 40% of gross income, though the RTA does not set a legal minimum

What you cannot do:

• Discriminate based on source of income, including Ontario Works, ODSP, or subsidized housing. Many applications to the Human Rights Tribunal arise from landlords refusing applicants solely because they receive government assistance.
• Run a credit check without written consent
• Ask about family planning, pregnancy, marital status, or number of children

For a detailed screening checklist, see Tenant Screening Red Flags.

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Step 8: Sign the Ontario Standard Lease

In Ontario, all new residential tenancies must use the Ontario Standard Lease form. Landlords who fail to provide a standard lease when asked are required to do so within 21 days — and a tenant who doesn't receive one can withhold one month's rent.

What the standard lease covers:

• Rent amount and payment date
• Lease term (fixed vs. month-to-month)
• What's included in rent (heat, hydro, parking)
• Rules the landlord adds in Schedule A (pet restrictions, smoking policy, parking assignment, snow removal responsibilities)

Before signing:

• Collect the last month's rent deposit at signing. This is the only deposit you are legally permitted to collect in Ontario — you cannot charge a security deposit, damage deposit, or key deposit.
• Confirm the rent start date and the due date for ongoing payments.
• Review every item in Schedule A with the tenant. Any rule in Schedule A must comply with the RTA to be enforceable.

For a full breakdown of what the standard lease requires and what to add, see How to Write a Lease Agreement in Ontario.

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Step 9: Complete the Move-In Inspection

The move-in inspection is your legal protection against disputes at the end of the tenancy. It establishes the condition of the unit on day one.

Do this on or before the first day:

• Walk through every room with the tenant present
• Document every existing mark, scratch, stain, worn area, or deficiency
• Take photos with timestamps — one per area of concern
• Both you and the tenant sign the completed inspection report

Without a signed move-in inspection, it is very difficult to deduct any amount from the last month's rent deposit at move-out — the deposit is for unpaid rent, not damage, but documented damages can form the basis of a Small Claims Court claim.

Read Move-In and Move-Out Inspection in Ontario for the complete process.

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Common Mistakes First-Time Landlords Make

1. Listing before getting the licence The City of London Rental Housing Licence is required before you can legally rent most units. Starting without it puts you in violation before the tenancy begins.

2. Pricing based on what you need, not what the market bears Your mortgage, taxes, and renovation costs are irrelevant to the market. Price based on comparable rented units, not your carrying costs.

3. Accepting the first applicant without screening A two-week vacancy is far less expensive than a bad tenancy. Do the credit check. Call the references. A tenancy under the RTA is difficult and slow to exit.

4. Collecting a deposit beyond last month's rent A security deposit, damage deposit, or key deposit is illegal in Ontario. Landlords who collect these are required to return them and may face LTB complaints.

5. Skipping the move-in inspection "The unit was perfect when they moved in" is not evidence. A signed, photographed inspection report is.

6. Not understanding rent increase rules Once a tenant is in place, you cannot raise rent in the first 12 months. After that, rent increases must follow the provincial guideline, be served using an N1 form, and be given 90 days' written notice. See Rent Increase Ontario Guidelines for the full process.

7. Assuming you can end the tenancy when you need to A fixed-term lease does not end automatically. At the end of the term, the tenancy converts to month-to-month — the tenant has the right to stay. You cannot ask a tenant to leave simply because the lease expired. See Tenant Won't Leave After Lease Ends for what options are actually available.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to find a tenant in London, Ontario? A well-priced, well-presented unit in London typically fills in two to four weeks. A unit priced at or slightly below market in a desirable neighbourhood can receive inquiries within 48 hours of listing. Units that sit longer are usually overpriced or have presentation issues.

Can I require a co-signer for a rental in Ontario? You can request a co-signer or guarantor as part of your screening process. A guarantor agreement is a civil contract and can be enforced in Small Claims Court, though the LTB does not adjudicate guarantor disputes. You cannot require a co-signer after the tenancy has started.

Do I have to use the Ontario Standard Lease? Yes. Since April 30, 2018, the Ontario Standard Lease is mandatory for all new private residential tenancies. Using a custom lease without the standard form creates legal complications and, if the tenant requests it, you must provide the form within 21 days or they can withhold one month's rent.

What if I want to live in the unit myself later? You can serve an N12 notice for own use, but only after giving 60 days' notice before the last day of a rental period and paying the tenant one month's compensation. There are restrictions on when and how this can be done. See N12 Notice in Ontario for the requirements.

Can I choose not to rent to someone with pets? You can decline an applicant with pets during the screening process, before a tenancy is established. Once the tenancy begins, you cannot evict a tenant solely for having a pet — the no-pets clause in your lease is unenforceable. The full explanation is in No-Pets Clause in Ontario Rentals.

What is the last month's rent deposit used for? It can only be applied to the last month's rent. You cannot use it for repairs, cleaning, or unpaid utilities. You must also pay annual interest on it each year. If the tenant causes damage beyond normal wear and tear, your remedies are through Small Claims Court — not the deposit.

What happens if the tenant damages the unit? Document everything, compare against your move-in inspection report, and submit a claim through Small Claims Court for amounts above normal wear and tear. See Tenant Damages Property in Ontario for the options available.

Do I need to disclose anything before the tenancy starts? You are required to provide a copy of the signed lease. If the unit has known issues that would affect habitability — a history of water infiltration, a pest problem, a mechanical system in poor condition — failing to disclose can form the basis of a T6 maintenance complaint or a T2 application.

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When Renting Out Your House Makes Sense to Outsource

Renting out a single property is manageable — if you're prepared for the time it takes and the legal obligations it involves. Many landlords find the screening and lease process straightforward but run into trouble later: rent increases missed, move-out disputes without documentation, or an LTB issue they weren't prepared for.

If you're renting out your house in London, St. Thomas, or Strathroy and want the tenancy started correctly from day one, Prospera Properties offers a tenant placement service that handles pricing, listing, showings, screening, and lease preparation. You keep ownership and control; we handle the process.

Learn about Prospera's tenant placement service to see what's included.

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This guide covers general Ontario landlord law as of 2026. For property-specific advice, consult a licensed paralegal or the Landlord's Self Help Centre.