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Renter's Toolkit

Home...Housing and HomelessnessHousing SupportsRenter's Toolkit
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Renter's Toolkit 

This toolkit can help you search for and secure housing, deal with issues that come up as a tenant, or help you plan your next move.

In this toolkit, you will find:

  • Answers to common questions about finding and maintaining housing
  • Direct links to resources that can help
  • Tip sheets and worksheets that you can use

Preparing for Your Housing Search

The information below can help you prepare for your housing search.

ID, Benefits and Reference Checks

  • How to Apply for Tax Benefits and Credits

  • How to Get Credit and Reference Checks and Why You Need Them

  • How to Get ID

Planning and Budgeting

  • How to Narrow Your Housing Search
  • How to Create a Housing Plan

  • How to Create a Housing Plan Worksheet

  • Personal Monthly Budget

Living with Roommates

  • Questions to consider if you live with a roommate
  • How to Know if Your Potential Roommate is Right For You

Searching for Housing

The information below can help you with your housing search. Information includes how to compare rental listings, helpful tips for working with landlords and community resources if you need extra help. 

Comparing Rental Listings

  • Beginning Your Housing Search
  • Apartment Comparison Checklist

  • Where to Find Online Apartment Listings

Short Videos to Help You

  •  Rights & Responsibilities
  •  Tenant Insurance
  •  Overview
  •  Eviction Tips
  •  Legal Unit
  •  Housing Outreach
  •  Forms

Affordable Housing and Housing Outreach Help

  • Housing Outreach Programs in Durham Region
  • Apply for Housing

  • The Housing Stability Program

 Working with Landlords

  • A Guide to Interacting with Landlords

  • Landlord Contact Chart

Securing Housing and Making it a Home

The information below can help you understand your lease and what to look for when you move into your new home. 

Lease and Tenant Insurance

  • What is Tenant Insurance

  • What is a Lease

  • Reviewing and Summarizing Your Lease

Moving In

  • Making it a Home: Checklist and Considerations

  • Move-in inspection form

Staying Housed

It is very important that you reach out for help as soon as possible if you are worried about paying your rent, having problems with your landlord or get an eviction notice. We can help you with supports if you reach out early so that we can save your tenancy. Homelessness in Durham is increasing and we want to make sure that you can stay housed. 

What to do if you get an N4 notice - Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario - ACTO

The information below can help you understand your rights and responsibilities as a tenant. There are also community resources if you need extra help.

Living with Roommates

  • Tips and Strategies for Living with a Housemate in Shared Accommodation
  • How to Prevent and Address Home Takeovers

Issues during your Tenancy

  • How to Respond to Issues that Arise During Your Tenancy
  • Missed Rent Payments and Negotiating with your Landlord
  • What to do if you are Unable to Pay Your Utility Bills
  • Dealing with Pests
  • Provincial resources to support educators and tenants

Eviction

  • How to Respond to an Eviction Notice

Deciding to Move

The tip sheets below help with navigating through notice periods for those needing to move due to abuse or other extenuating factors.

  • Shorter Notice Period for Tenants Facing Abuse
  • What You Need to Know About Notice Periods

 

 Version 1.1

For anyone who requires more help from a housing worker, please visit the Housing Supports page

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