Ontario's Rent Increase Guideline for 2014 is set at 0.8 per cent. The annual Guideline applies to most private residential rentals and represents the maximum rent increase allowed without requesting an increase before the Landlord and Tenant Board. The figure is...

The average rental apartment vacancy rate in Canada's 35 major centres increased to 2.7 per cent in April 2013, from 2.3 per cent in April 2012, according to the spring Rental Market Survey released last week by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “While...

After completing a pilot program that started in 2009, property management giant Related Companies has launched a portfolio-wide smoke free initiative for all of its over 40,000 luxury, workforce and affordable rental residences. Related, a premier brand of luxury...

The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health, has announced new regulations that will change the way Canadians are allowed to access medical marihuana. Under the new regulations, production will no longer be allowed to take place in homes, and municipal zoning...

Ask landlords how often they are allowed to check up on a rental property, and the answer might be, “Whenever I want. After all, it’s my property.” But ask the same question of tenants, and they’d likely say, “Never!” The answer lies somewhere in between, but...

A jury in Annapolis, Maryland awarded a tenant $800,000 in damages after she moved into an apartment infested with bedbugs. According to a news report, the jury took just 45 minutes to deliberate, and handed down a verdict for twice what the tenant had asked for,...

Ask landlords how often they are allowed to check up on a rental property, and the answer might be, "Whenever I want. After all, it's my property." But ask the same question of tenants, and they'd likely say, "Never!" The answer lies somewhere in between, but...

A landlord in Halifax discovered that a tenant was hoarding more than fifty cats in a one bedroom apartment. According to a news report, the tenant was cooperative in surrendering the cats to a nearby animal shelter.  The report states that the landlord will allow the...

Rose blooms are not the only thing signaling the approach of summer. It's also nesting time for bats. Bats may have an important place in the ecosystem, but they also can carry rabies. Plus, they scare a lot of people, including your tenants. Pregnant bats nest in the...

A little advance planning goes a long way when it comes to dealing with tenants who bounce checks. That planning begins with a review of your lease: Typically, landlords have the right to charge fees for bad checks -- if it's covered in the lease. Depending on your...