Leasing agents and rental agents in Canada
A leasing agent is a real estate agent who helps landlords find tenants, and tenants find a place to rent. For landlords that means pricing the rent, advertising the unit, showing it, screening applicants and preparing the lease. For tenants it means searching, arranging viewings and putting forward an application that stands out in a competitive market.
The agents listed here help with residential rentals across Canada. Ongoing property management, collecting rent and handling repairs after the tenant moves in, is a separate service, and in some provinces it requires a separate licence.
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Are you an agent? List here freeDo real estate agents help with rentals?
Many do, especially in large cities where rentals are listed on the same systems as sales. Leasing a property for someone else is a regulated activity in most provinces, so the agent should be licensed through a brokerage that handles leases. Some agents focus on rentals; others take them on as a way to build relationships with future buyers.
For a tenant, an agent is most useful in a tight market where good units go quickly. For a landlord, an agent is most useful when the landlord does not live nearby or does not want to run the screening and paperwork themselves.
Who pays the leasing commission on a rental
In most residential rentals the landlord pays the leasing commission, and the landlord’s brokerage may share it with a tenant’s agent. Whether a tenant can be charged a fee, and how much, is limited in some provinces; ask before you agree to anything, and get it in writing.
A landlord should agree the fee, the services included, and what happens if the tenant leaves early. Some agreements include a guarantee period during which the agent will find a replacement at no extra charge.
Tenant screening and the lease
Screening usually means a rental application, a credit report with the applicant’s consent, proof of income and references from previous landlords. Privacy law limits what can be collected and how it is stored, and human rights law prohibits refusing tenants on protected grounds. A good leasing agent will screen consistently and keep a record of why each decision was made.
Provincial tenancy law governs the lease. Some provinces require a standard form; most limit deposits and rent increases and set out how a tenancy can end. Terms that conflict with the law are generally unenforceable, however the lease is worded.
Common questions
Does a tenant pay a realtor to find a rental?
Usually not. In most residential rentals the landlord pays the commission. Some provinces limit or prohibit charging tenants fees; check your province’s rules and ask the agent directly before you sign anything.
What is the difference between a leasing agent and a property manager?
A leasing agent finds and places the tenant. A property manager runs the tenancy after that: rent collection, repairs, notices and renewals. Some firms do both, and some provinces license property management separately.
How do I find a tenant without an agent?
Advertise the unit, show it, screen applicants with a written application, credit check and references, and use the lease form your province requires or recommends. Learn your province’s tenancy law first, because mistakes at the start are hard to undo.
Can a leasing agent help me rent out my condo?
Yes. Check the condo’s bylaws first; some restrict rentals, set minimum lease terms or require the tenant to be registered with the corporation. The agent should confirm the rules before advertising.