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Ontario rent rules

Rent receipts in Ontario: the rules, plus a free template

If a tenant asks for a rent receipt in Ontario, you must provide one, free of charge. Here's exactly what the receipt has to say, and a template you can copy.

Your obligation under the RTA

  • A current tenant who asks for a receipt, for rent or any other amount they've paid, must get one, at no charge. Charging a "receipt fee" is not allowed.
  • A former tenant can also demand receipts, up to 12 months after the tenancy ends.
  • This applies no matter how the rent was paid: cash, cheque, or e-transfer.

What the receipt must include

  • The address of the rental unit
  • The tenant's name (or the person who paid)
  • The amount and date of each payment, and what it was for (rent, deposit, arrears, etc.)
  • The landlord's name
  • The signature of the landlord or the landlord's agent

Free template

Copy this, fill in the blanks, sign it, and you've met the requirements:

RENT RECEIPT

Rental unit address: ______________________________________

Received from (tenant): ______________________________________

Amount: $____________    Date received: ____________

Payment for: ☐ Rent (period: ______________ )   ☐ Rent deposit   ☐ Arrears   ☐ Other: ____________

Payment method: ☐ Cash   ☐ Cheque   ☐ E-transfer   ☐ Other: ____________

Landlord name: ______________________________________

Signature (landlord or agent): ______________________    Date: ____________

Tip: for a full year of payments (tenants often ask at tax time for the Ontario Trillium Benefit), one receipt listing each month's date and amount is fine, as long as every required detail is on it.

Good habits that save disputes

  • Always receipt cash on the spot. Cash disputes are the hardest to untangle at the Board.
  • Keep your own copy of every receipt you issue.
  • Keep a real ledger. If a payment dispute reaches the LTB, a clean, dated payment history is your best evidence.

Every payment on record, automatically

Keystead's double-entry ledger records every payment with its date, amount, and what it covered, and tenants can see their own payment history in the portal, so receipt requests take seconds, not searches.

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This guide is general information, not legal advice, and rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the Landlord and Tenant Board or a licensed paralegal before you act.

More guides: Rent deposits & interest · The CRA T776 · All landlord guides