Few topics surprise Ontario landlords more than this one: the “no pets” clause in your lease is void. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, once a tenant has moved in, you generally cannot evict them simply for having a pet — even if the lease says no pets.

Here’s what the law actually allows, and how experienced owners handle it.

This is general information, not legal advice.

What the law says

  • Before a tenancy begins, you may decline an applicant who has pets — pet ownership isn’t a protected ground under the Human Rights Code. (The exception is service animals, which are protected.)
  • After move-in, a no-pet clause is unenforceable. A tenant who acquires a dog is not, by itself, evictable.
  • Pets can still be a problem you can act on — but only through their effects: damage to the unit, serious allergic reactions of other tenants, substantial interference with others’ enjoyment, or an inherently dangerous animal. Those situations run through proper notices (typically an N5) and the Landlord and Tenant Board, based on evidence.
  • Pet deposits are not allowed. Ontario permits only a last-month’s-rent deposit and a refundable key deposit — nothing for pets or damage.

What you can still control

You have more practical levers than most owners think:

  1. Screening the human, thoroughly. A responsible tenant is a responsible pet owner. Rental history and previous-landlord references tell you how their animals actually lived in a unit. (Our full approach is in How to screen tenants legally in Ontario.)
  2. Documenting the condition. A detailed move-in inspection with photos means pet damage at move-out is provable and chargeable — through the proper process.
  3. Insurance conversations. Requiring tenants to hold tenant insurance is standard good practice, pets or no pets.
  4. Building type. In some condo buildings, the condominium’s own rules can restrict pets independently of the RTA.

The business case for saying yes

Here’s what the spreadsheet says: a large share of good tenants have pets, and most of your competitors are trying to avoid them. Pet-friendly rentals draw from a deeper applicant pool, often rent faster, and pet-owning tenants — who know how hard pet-friendly housing is to find — tend to stay longer. Longer tenancies mean fewer turnovers, and turnovers are where an owner’s real money goes.

The honest risk is wear — an animal in a unit is more wear than no animal. The math usually still favours yes: an extra cleaning or a patch of flooring costs far less than an extra month of vacancy chasing a pet-free unicorn.

Our approach

We screen the applicant thoroughly, document the unit meticulously, and manage any problems through the proper RTA process — which lets our owners take strong applicants with pets confidently rather than fearfully.

Want a second opinion on your rental’s pet policy — or the whole thing off your desk? Get a no-obligation quote or call 519-385-5494.