Government ID + liveness
Two-piece ID match plus a liveness check to prevent stolen-ID fraud.
For tenants
Browse free. Verify once. Move in confidently.
Every active MLS rental + Summitly Exclusive across Ontario on one map. $49 verification covers every application for a year. A licensed brokerage drafts your lease and holds your deposit in trust.
RECO-registered brokerage·Trust-account deposits·Zara AI · 50+ languages
How renting on Summitly works
Five steps. Brokerage in the middle.
Browse free. Verify once. Apply to any listing. The brokerage handles the lease, holds your deposit in trust, and gets you to keys-in-hand.
- 1
Browse free
MLS + Summitly Exclusive on one map. Filter by neighbourhood, beds, budget, pets, furnished. No signup.
- 2
Get Summit Verified
$49/yr unlocks instant-apply across every Exclusive rental — and signals you're serious to MLS landlords too.
- 3
Apply with one click
Your verified profile is sent privately to the landlord. No more re-uploading documents to every listing.
- 4
Brokerage coordinates
Once the landlord confirms interest, a Summit Realty agent contacts you, schedules the viewing.
- 5
Sign + move in
Ontario Standard Lease drafted by the brokerage. Deposit held in trust. Boutique concierge to keys-in-hand.
Summit Verified · $49/yr
Verify once. Apply everywhere.
One verification covers a year of rental applications across every Summitly listing in Canada. Soft credit pull (no score impact). On-time rent reported to Equifax — building your credit while you rent.
What gets verified
Soft Equifax credit pull
Full bureau pull. No impact on your credit score. Run it as many times as you need.
Income + employment
Confirmed directly from bank or payroll — not documents you upload, which can be faked.
Rental references
Your last two landlords contacted and confirmed within a business day.
Ontario LTB history
Any prior Landlord and Tenant Board orders surfaced before any landlord sees you.
AI risk rating
A composite verdict summarizes the above so landlords approve faster.
- Reusable across every Summitly listing — one fee, 12 months, every application
- On-time rent reported to Equifax — builds your credit while you rent
- Identity stays private — landlords see verification level + ranges, not name/phone
- PIPEDA compliant — explicit consent, encrypted, never sold
- Faster applications — verified profiles jump the queue
- Off-MLS pocket access — quality landlords share pre-listing inventory
Annual cost
$49 / year
One verification. Every Summitly listing in Canada. 12 months. No per-application fees.
MLS vs Summitly Exclusive
Two ways to find your home. One platform.
MLS gives you breadth. Summitly Exclusive gives you depth — verified landlords, brokerage-drafted lease, escrowed deposits.
| MLS rentals | Summitly Exclusive | |
|---|---|---|
| Who lists the property | REALTORs province-wide | Summitly-vetted landlords directly |
| Verification of landlord | Brokerage-licensed (varies) | Landlord ID + ownership confirmed by Summitly |
| Photos | Whatever the listing agent uploads | Real, recent, no stock photos |
| Application speed | Manual — re-upload documents | One-click apply with Summit Verified |
| Deposit handling | Direct to landlord | Brokerage trust account (escrowed) |
| Lease drafting | Listing agent or landlord | Coldwell Banker Summit Realty agent |
| Scam risk | Standard MLS protections | Verified landlord + brokerage in middle |
First-time renter in Ontario
Your Ontario tenant rights.
The Residential Tenancies Act protects every Ontario tenant. Here's what your landlord can and cannot do.
Deposit limits
Ontario landlords can only ask for first month + last month. Pet deposits, key deposits over $20, cleaning fees — all illegal and recoverable through the LTB.
Rent-increase guideline
Annual increases capped at the provincial guideline (2.5% for 2026). Landlord must serve N1 with 90 days' notice. Above-guideline increases need LTB approval.
Eviction protections
Eviction requires an LTB application + hearing — landlords cannot lock you out, change locks, or shut off utilities. 60-day notice for end-of-term.
Standard Lease (Form 2229)
Every Ontario residential tenancy must use the standardized Form 2229 since April 2018. Non-standard clauses are unenforceable in front of the LTB.
What first-time renters regret
Five pitfalls to avoid.
- 1
Paying a damage deposit
Illegal in Ontario. First + last month is the legal maximum. If asked, walk away or report to the LTB.
- 2
Signing a non-standard lease
Every Ontario lease must use the provincial Standard Lease (Form 2229). Custom 'roommate agreements' or hand-written terms have no legal weight.
- 3
Not getting it in writing
Verbal promises about rent caps, utilities, parking, pets — worth nothing in front of the LTB. Get every term into the lease itself.
- 4
Wiring deposits via e-transfer to strangers
Use Summitly Exclusive's escrow-protected flow. Direct e-transfer to a stranger is the #1 rental-scam vector in Ontario.
- 5
Skipping the move-in inspection
Document every pre-existing scratch, scuff, dent, and stain with timestamped photos. Send the list to the landlord within 24 hours of move-in to protect your deposit.
New · Rental Intelligence
Know who you're renting from — before you apply.
Search the landlord, property manager, or company name on a Rental Intelligence report. We surface court, tribunal, government enforcement, and major-news records — all source-linked, all verifiable, never a rating.
- Run before you submit your Summit Verified profile or pay a deposit.
- See past LTB orders, regulatory actions, and corporate filings.
- Every record links to its original source — verify in one click.
- Free preview is free. $19.99 unlocks one full report.
Tenant FAQ
Is browsing Summitly free?+
Yes — 100% free. No signup, no account, no email required. Filter by city, neighbourhood, beds, budget, pets, furnished — all without paying.
What does $49 Summit Verified cover?+
Government ID with liveness check, soft Equifax credit pull (no score impact), income verified at source, employment confirmation, two landlord references, and Ontario LTB history. Valid 12 months, reusable across every Summitly listing in Canada.
Will Summit Verified affect my credit score?+
No. Soft pull only — runs as many times as you need with no impact.
What's the difference between MLS and Summitly Exclusive?+
MLS rentals are listed province-wide by REALTORs — Summitly aggregates them. Summitly Exclusive rentals are managed end-to-end through our platform: verified landlords, real photos, faster applications, brokerage-handled lease and deposit.
Can landlords contact me directly?+
No — and that's intentional. Direct contact before screening is what makes Kijiji full of scams. A licensed Coldwell Banker Summit Realty agent runs the introduction.
What can my landlord legally collect upfront?+
First month's rent + last month's rent only. Pet deposits, damage deposits, and key deposits over $20 are illegal in Ontario and recoverable through the LTB.
How much can my rent go up each year?+
Annual rent increases are capped at the provincial guideline — 2.5% for 2026. Your landlord must serve an N1 notice 90 days in advance. Above-guideline increases require LTB approval.
Can my landlord lock me out for missing rent?+
No. Eviction requires an LTB application and a hearing. Landlords cannot change locks, shut off utilities, or remove your belongings.
Can Zara help in my language?+
Zara is fluent in 50+ languages including Mandarin, Punjabi, Urdu, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Farsi, Arabic, Polish, Russian, French, Hindi. Voice and text.
Ask Zara · 50+ languages
Personal answers, in your language.
Zara walks you through deposits, lease clauses, the LTB process, and rent disputes — in plain English, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Mandarin and 50+ more. Or call 1-833-555-WARA.