Ontario rent rules

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

By Steve Stavros Liadakis, Ontario landlord for 30+ years · Updated August 10, 2026

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.

The short version

Ontario landlords must provide a rent receipt whenever a tenant asks, free of charge, and former tenants can demand receipts up to 12 months after the tenancy ends. The receipt must show the rental unit's address, the tenant's name, the amount and date of each payment and what it was for, the landlord's name, and a signature. The rule applies no matter how the rent was paid: cash, cheque, or e-transfer. Copy the template on this page, fill in the blanks, and sign it to meet the requirements.

On this page

Your obligation under the RTA
What the receipt must include
Free template
Good habits that save disputes
Frequently asked questions

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.

Frequently asked questions

Do landlords have to give rent receipts in Ontario?

Yes. An Ontario tenant who asks for a receipt, for rent or any other amount they've paid, must get one free of charge. Charging a receipt fee is not allowed.

What must a rent receipt include in Ontario?

An Ontario rent 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, the landlord's name, and the signature of the landlord or the landlord's agent.

Do I have to give a rent receipt for cheque or e-transfer payments?

Yes. Ontario's receipt obligation applies no matter how the rent was paid: cash, cheque, or e-transfer.

Can a former tenant request rent receipts in Ontario?

Yes. In Ontario a former tenant can demand receipts up to 12 months after the tenancy ends.

Can I issue one rent receipt for the whole year in Ontario?

Yes. One receipt listing each month's date and amount is fine, as long as every required detail is on it. Tenants often ask for a full-year receipt at tax time for the Ontario Trillium Benefit.

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.

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