How Many Tenants Can Live in a House in Ontario?
Are you aware of the legal norms that determine the number of tenants you can keep in a house in Ontario?
25/01/2022
Being a homeowner in Ontario, you might be thinking about how to optimize the available space, right? To make the most of your rentable space, you might want to rent your property out to as many tenants as possible. However, are you aware of the legal norms that determine the number of tenants you can keep in a house in Ontario?
On a similar note, if you are a tenant looking for accommodation, you might be looking forward to sharing the house with other tenants. This would ultimately bring down the individual expense on house rent significantly.
But, if you’re not familiar with the rules that are set in place in Ontario, you may accidentally exceed the tenant limit. Exceeding this limit can force one or more of the potential tenants to relocate.
Amidst all these calculations, you should not miss out on purchasing tenant insurance. Remember, even if your landlord has home insurance, it is meant to cover the building or the structure. Therefore, you, as the renter, won’t be covered by the homeowner’s policy. When you rent a property, you should reach out to a reputable insurance brokerage, like Surex for the best tenant insurance deals.
In this article, you will learn exactly how many tenants can live in a house Ontario.
Legal norms governing how many tenants can live in a house in Ontario
At the outset, you should know the legal norms that govern the number of people who can live in a rented house. As per the municipal bylaws, the number of people living in a livable floor space measuring 9 Sq. Mts. should not exceed 1.
Besides, there are other norms regarding how many occupants a property owner can accommodate in a bedroom. According to these rules, if you have a three-bedroom bungalow of approximately 950 sq. Ft. floor area, you can rent it to a maximum of ten tenants. However, it is unlikely that so many tenants would come under a mutual agreement to share the rental property.
Considering the emergency aspects like fire exit and security, the authorities do not permit more than ten people to share the rented property. However, this might not be applicable if a large family with many children rents the house. As per the Ontario Human Rights Code, even people with large families reserve the right to housing.
Moreover, the Ontario Rental Tenancies Act usually allows tenants to add more tenants or sublet the property as they feel appropriate. Particularly, landlords are not permitted to refuse a request (reasonable enough) from the tenants to add more people in case of a lease, as per Clause 3.
Can a landlord have the final say on who you can sublet a house?
So long as a tenant or the subtenants do not damage the property, break the tenancy laws, or disturb other tenants, the landlord does not have any right to determine who would stay in the property.
As per the Rental Tenancies Act, all the tenants reserve the right to enjoy the living space. This norm includes the fact that the tenants can live with any person they wish to be there. Therefore, as a renter, you can add a roommate or two to split the rent or tenant insurance cost among yourselves. Make sure to have the right people so that you don’t face eviction when they end up damaging the property.
Do you need permission from your landlord before bringing in a roommate?
A person has the right to live as a roommate or an occupant in a rental space even without the landlord’s consent. However, the original tenant also needs to reside in the same rental unit. In some instances, you need to sign a tenancy agreement, determining the person who is the occupant. While in some situations, there might be no specification governing who the actual occupant is.
In other cases, there might be no tenancy agreement whatsoever. In these situations, a person might occupy the rental unit with the tenant’s consent. As per Section 67 of the RTA, this does not necessarily mean overcrowding in the residential space.
When can a landlord demand a rent adjustment while accommodating multiple tenants?
While tenants would be happy with the existing norms governing the number of people whom a landlord can accommodate, you should be aware of the landlord’s rights too.
When it comes to the utilities included, adding new tenants might lead to greater electric or water bills. Additionally, there will likely be more wear and tear-related damage to the property if there are too many tenants living in a single space. Under these conditions, the landlord reserves the right to demand a rent adjustment.
Therefore, if you decide to share the livable space among other members, be ready to cooperate with the landlord regarding the rent. Obviously, the landlord would expect a higher rent while accommodating more tenants, considering these factors.
For how long can a tenant have a guest in Ontario?
If you are a tenant residing in one of the rented properties in Ontario, you can have guests as frequently as you want. Besides, there is no limitation on the duration for which a tenant can have guests. As a landlord, you don’t reserve any right to deprive your tenant of these privileges. Failure to adhere to these norms might lead to lawsuits on the grounds of harassing your tenant.
However, these norms do not apply to community housing. If you are a landlord managing a community housing property, you have the liberty to enforce restrictions on the duration of stay for guests. For instance, the Toronto Community Housing permits its tenants to have guests for a maximum of 30 days a year. However, in some housing communities, tenants can request an extension for the duration of stay of their guests.
Endnote
Whether you are a landlord or a tenant, it makes sense to have your property adequately insured. While a homeowner’s insurance would protect the landlord’s interest, the tenant’s insurance policies would cover the latter’s interests. Consulting one of the established insurance experts, tenants can get the best policies recommended. Explore the best deals for home insurance and secure your property as you rent a house in Ontario.