The New Standard Form Of Lease And Condo-Specific Additional Terms

The New Standard Form of Lease is a new mandatory form of residential tenancy agreement for all new tenancies. It contains basic lease provisions, but allows for additional terms to be attached. Condo owners should consider adding a wide-range of protections to the basic lease, as the RTA is geared towards tenant protection. Smoking Section 10 of the Form provides the landlord a place to insert smoking rules which would bind the tenant. Section 15 and Appendix R to the Form clarify that the Act supersedes the RTA as it pertains to pet restrictions.

Additional terms can be added to supplement the Form, such as smoking rules, pet restrictions, and additional terms for condo-specific scenarios. The landlord should specify that they have no liability to the tenant in respect of any consents or approvals of the corporation, direct the tenant how common expenses are to be paid, insist upon and specify the type of tenant insurance policies, and specify the applicability of the expedited superintendent suite lease termination provisions. Legal advice should be obtained where necessary.