Fifteen minutes with public records beats a year of regret. In order:
- Search the address on this site. Check the RentSafeTO score and its trend, open orders, and the LTB orders list. One or two arrears filings mean little; repeated T6 maintenance orders mean a lot.
- Check the landlord's page. How do their other buildings score? What is their orders-per-100-units rate compared with similar-size portfolios?
- Rent control. If the building was first occupied after November 15, 2018, increases are uncapped. Decide whether the rent still makes sense in year three.
- Who pays utilities. The building facts show whether hydro is separately metered and what the heating type is; electric heat plus your own hydro meter can add $100+ a month in winter.
- The unit itself. Water pressure, cell signal, window drafts, signs of pests behind the fridge, and the state of the laundry room — the common areas tell you how the building is run.
- The lease. Ontario's standard lease form is mandatory; extra clauses that contradict the Residential Tenancies Act are void. No deposit beyond first and last month's rent; key deposits must be refundable.