Before advertising, make the home safe, clean and ready to use. Fix known problems and decide what the rent includes.
Use this checklist for repairs, insurance, property records and photos. Get professional help where the property or rules require it.
Check property rules and records
Confirm that the intended use and unit configuration are lawful, that insurance is appropriate for a rental, and that any condominium or shared-property rules are understood. Collect permits, warranties, manuals, utility information and previous maintenance records. Do not advertise a bedroom, parking space or included area unless its use is legitimate and available.
Ottawa property standards and rental-housing requirements operate alongside Ontario tenancy law. Requirements can depend on the building and situation. Review current City and provincial information, and engage legal, building, electrical, fire-safety or other qualified professionals when the property raises a question.
Complete repairs before cosmetic work
Start with water entry, electrical concerns, heating, plumbing, locks, windows, stairs, railings, ventilation and included appliances. Address known pests and sources of moisture. A fresh wall colour does not compensate for an unresolved leak or unreliable heat.
Create a written work list with owner, contractor, target date and proof of completion. Test repaired items and retain invoices or reports. If work cannot be completed before marketing, disclose timing accurately and do not photograph or promise a condition that will not exist at possession.
Clean the home and finish needed repairs
Use a consistent neutral finish where repainting is needed, replace failed bulbs with appropriate fixtures, clean appliances thoroughly and remove abandoned belongings. Repair small visible defects that make prospects question wider maintenance. Exterior access, parking, waste areas and shared spaces should receive the same attention as the main rooms.
Avoid over-improving beyond what the home and likely use justify. Choose maintainable materials and standard components that can be serviced. Record model and serial numbers for included equipment before a tenant moves in.
List the rent and what it includes
Decide the requested rent through a current comparison of genuinely similar homes, then specify occupancy date, included utilities, parking, storage, appliances and permitted use of outdoor or shared areas. For a condominium, provide applicable rules and move procedures early. For multi-unit properties, explain how services and spaces are divided.
Set a lawful, consistent application and screening process before inquiries arrive. Determine who answers questions, conducts showings, secures documents and communicates decisions. Ontario human rights requirements apply to advertising and tenant selection; protected preferences do not belong in the listing or evaluation.
Give the leasing team accurate property information
Give the person marketing the home confirmed details about the layout, included services, parking, storage, appliances, utility responsibility, availability and any work still scheduled. Arrange access only after the property is ready to be represented accurately, and review the final listing before it is published.
Expect photographs and copy to show the actual available home, its useful spaces and its current condition without distortion. Correct anything that overstates a feature, omits a material limitation or conflicts with the intended lease. The owner's role is to approve a truthful offer; a capable leasing team should coordinate the production and publication work.
Confirm the lease terms and keep move-in records
Before lease preparation, confirm the owner decisions that must appear in the agreement: landlord contact details, payment method, utility responsibility, smoking terms, insurance requirements and other property-specific arrangements. Ontario's standard lease is required in most cases. Have a qualified professional review unusual terms rather than supplying an old custom clause to the leasing team.
Require a dated move-in record that documents condition, keys, access devices and included equipment, and make sure the tenant receives the agreed contact and service-request information. Keep the signed lease, consents, condition material, invoices and important communications in the owner file so they remain available throughout the tenancy.
- Compliance and insurance questions confirmed
- Safety and functional repairs completed
- Property professionally cleaned and documented
- Rent, included features and responsibilities defined
- Fair application process prepared
- Accurate photos and listing published
- Standard lease and move-in record ready
