For landlords · Ontario
List your Ontario rental at no upfront cost. Pay half a month + HST only when a lease signs.
Short answer: listing a rental on Summitly costs nothing. Only Summitly Verified tenants can express interest. Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, a RECO-registered Ontario brokerage, coordinates viewings, prepares the Ontario Standard Lease and holds the deposit in trust. You pay ½ month’s rent + HST only if a lease is signed.
What it costs you
To list: $0. If a lease signs:
Fee if a lease signs
$1,200 + $156 HST
$0 if it doesn’t. Deducted from the first month’s rent held in trust, with a statement. The last month’s deposit stays reserved for the tenant’s final month.
About 15 minutes. Save a draft any time.
- RECO-registered brokerage
- Deposits held in trust
- Verified tenants only
- Ontario Standard Lease
- Read our reviews on Google
What your leasing service includes
Five things every landlord gets on day one. No subscription, no per-listing fee.
- $0
Your listing, seen by verified renters
Up to 25 photos. Shown on the same map as MLS® rentals, marked as a Summitly Exclusive.
- $0
Verified-tenant matches
Each applicant’s identity and income are checked privately. You receive an anonymized result, not the documents.
- $0
Verified Landlord badge
Ownership documents checked. Do it once and the badge shows on every listing you post.
- $0
The Ontario Standard Lease, prepared for you
The brokerage prepares the government form (2229E). You and the tenant sign it in your dashboard.
- $0
Deposit held in trust
First month’s rent and the last month’s deposit go into the brokerage trust account.
The fee, in one line
½ month’s rent + HST, only when a lease is signed — taken from the deposit.
- Nothing to list or keep a listing up
- Nothing if no lease is signed
- No application, per-tenant, renewal or cancellation fees
- Charged once per tenancy, with a statement
Type an amount or drag. $800 to $8,000.
- First month’s rent
- $2,400.00
- Last month’s rent deposit
- $2,400.00
- Held in trust
- $4,800.00
- Fee (½ month)
- − $1,200.00
- HST on the fee (13%)
- − $156.00
- What you receive
- $3,444.00
No lease, no fee. The last month’s deposit stays the tenant’s money until it’s used for the final month. Rent after month one is paid to you directly.
- You
Post your rental, free
Address, photos, rent and amenities. Up to 25 photos. About 15 minutes.
- You
Get your Verified Landlord badge, free
In your dashboard, scan your photo ID and upload proof of ownership or an authority-to-rent letter. The badge shows once both are checked.
- Us
We review and publish
A quality check, a legal-unit check and a fraud screen. Live within a day, on the same map as MLS® rentals.
- Tenants
Verified tenants show interest
Only Summitly Verified tenants can express interest. You see anonymized profiles, with names and phone numbers shared only after you accept.
- You
Say yes to the ones you like
Tap “I’m interested” or “Not a fit”. Saying yes is not a promise to rent.
- Us
We coordinate the viewing and the lease
Our team books the viewing with the tenant and confirms by text. We prepare the Ontario Standard Lease; you both sign in the dashboard.
- Us
Deposit into trust, balance to you
First and last month go into the brokerage trust account. The last month’s deposit stays reserved for the final month. From the first month’s rent, the fee (½ month’s rent + HST) comes out; the rest is sent to you with a statement.
What “verified tenant” means
Every applicant paid for Summitly Verified ($49 + HST, good for 12 months) and passed these checks before they can express interest.
Identity
Government photo ID, checked automatically, so the applicant is who they say they are.
Decided automatically
The Summitly Verified badge is issued only when every check passes.
Proof of income
Income checked before you see the profile. Every lawful source of income counts the same.
You see an anonymized profile: that their identity and income were checked, how many people will live there, pets, smoking and the move-in date. You don’t see their documents, income details, name or phone number. The brokerage connects you once there’s a match.
Want more views? Optional boosts
Most landlords never need one. Pay only if you choose one.
Free
Verified Landlord badge
Ownership documents checked. Always free.
$29 · 7 days
Refresh
Back to the top of city search for 7 days, with a “Recently updated” tag. Pay once.
$59/month
Featured
Shown first among Summitly Exclusives in your city, with a Featured tag.
$69/month
Bundle
Everything in Featured, plus one free Refresh each month and a faster listing review.
Monthly boosts can be cancelled any time and run to the end of the period. HST applies.
Summitly vs listing it yourself
Classified sites are free to post on too. The difference is who does the work after the ad goes up.
| List it yourself (classifieds) | Summitly | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to list | Usually free | Free |
| Tenant screening | You collect and check documents yourself | Identity and income checked privately; landlords receive an anonymized result, not the documents |
| Who can contact you | Anyone who sees the ad | Only Summitly Verified tenants, through the brokerage |
| Viewings | You arrange every one | Our team coordinates and confirms by text |
| The lease | You fill in the Standard Lease or pay someone to | The brokerage prepares the Ontario Standard Lease; sign in the dashboard |
| Deposit | Paid to you directly | Held in the brokerage trust account |
| Cost when a lease signs | None, but you do all of the above | ½ month’s rent + HST, once |
Your Ontario landlord rules, in plain words
The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 sets the rules for every Ontario rental.
Source: Ontario Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and ontario.ca. General information, not legal advice.
Use the Ontario Standard Lease (form 2229E)
Required for most private residential tenancies since April 30, 2018. Terms that break the Residential Tenancies Act can’t be enforced. We prepare it for you.
Collect only a rent deposit (and a refundable key deposit)
Up to one month’s rent, used for the last month, plus a refundable key deposit no higher than the cost of replacing the keys. Damage, pet and cleaning deposits are not allowed. You owe the tenant interest on the rent deposit each year at the rent increase guideline rate (2.1% for 2026 and 1.9% for 2027).
Follow the rent-increase rules
Increases are capped at the yearly guideline (2.1% for 2026) and need an N1 notice 90 days ahead. Going above it needs LTB approval. Units first occupied after November 15, 2018 are exempt from the guideline.
Keep the unit in good repair
Keep vital services on. Give 24 hours’ written notice before you enter, except in a real emergency.
Treat every applicant fairly
The Ontario Human Rights Code applies. You can’t refuse someone only because they receive social assistance or have children. Our document review does not include a credit check. A landlord may separately request credit checks, references, rental history and income, but income cannot be the only test (O. Reg. 290/98 and the Human Rights Code).
Common mistakes we help you avoid
- Taking the first applicant without checking ID and income
- Asking for a damage or pet deposit on top of last month’s rent
- Writing your own lease instead of using the Standard Lease
- Renting a basement or second unit that isn’t registered or up to fire code
- Entering the unit without 24 hours’ written notice
Want us to manage it too?
Summitly Property Management, a separate company, collects the rent, handles repairs and pays you monthly with a statement. Fees are a share of the rent collected; see the current rates.
Is listing my rental really free?
Yes. There is no charge to create an account, list a property or keep a listing up. You only pay if a lease is signed. Boosts are optional.
How much is the fee when a lease signs?
½ month’s rent + HST, charged once, only when a tenant signs. It is deducted from the first month’s rent held in the brokerage trust account and shown on your statement. The amount is set out in the Service Agreement you sign before accepting applicants.
What if I don’t find a tenant?
You pay nothing. Your listing can stay up as long as you want.
Can tenants contact me directly?
No. Tenants express interest through Summitly and you see their anonymized verified profile. When you say yes, a Coldwell Banker Summit Realty agent coordinates the viewing. Keeping the brokerage in the middle is how only verified tenants reach you.
What proof of ownership do you accept?
Upload proof of ownership, such as a property tax bill, title or condo status letter. Agents and property managers upload a signed authority-to-rent letter instead. You upload it in your dashboard; it stays private.
How are tenants verified?
Tenants pay $49 + HST for Summitly Verified, valid 12 months, before they can express interest in any Summitly Exclusive. Their identity and income are checked automatically before the badge is issued.
Can I list more than one property?
Yes. Listings are free and unlimited. Each unit is reviewed before it goes live.
What does the brokerage do?
Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, a RECO-registered Ontario brokerage, verifies tenants before they reach your dashboard, coordinates viewings, prepares the Ontario Standard Lease, holds the first and last month’s rent in its trust account and sends you the balance after the fee.
What’s the difference between free and promoted listings?
Free listings appear in search and on the city map. Boosts are optional: Refresh $29 for 7 days at the top of search, Featured $59/month, Bundle $69/month. The Verified Landlord badge is free. Monthly boosts can be cancelled any time.
What deposit can I collect in Ontario?
A rent deposit of up to one month’s rent, used for the last month, and a refundable key deposit no higher than the cost of replacing the keys. Damage, pet and cleaning deposits are not allowed.
Do I have to live in Ontario?
No, but the rental must be in Ontario. Summitly Rentals is open in Ontario now; other provinces open only after their lease and trust rules are reviewed.
Ready? It takes about 15 minutes.
Free to list. Verified tenants only. Pay ½ month’s rent + HST only if a lease is signed.
Leasing services by Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage, a RECO-registered Ontario brokerage. The fee, deposit handling and your authorization to deduct the fee from trust are set out in the Service Agreement you sign before accepting applicants.
Updated October 7, 2026 · Coldwell Banker Summit Realty, Brokerage
Reviewed by Waqar Afzal, Broker of Record ·
Brokerage services, representation, fees and disclosures. Mortgage, tax and legal information links to official sources and requires advice from the appropriate professional.
Entry and screening
For most non-emergency entries, give 24 hours’ written notice stating the reason and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tenant consent and emergencies are exceptions. Screening must follow Ontario’s Human Rights Code; income cannot be the only test.
Official sourceDocument privacy
Our team reviews applicant documents privately. Landlords see an anonymized review status; name and contact details are shared after acceptance.
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