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Finding a Rental on REALTOR.ca: Condos and Houses Listed by Brokerages
How to search rental and lease listings on REALTOR.ca, what it means to rent through a real estate agent in Canada, and how to protect yourself from rental scams.
REALTOR.ca is best known as the place Canadians browse homes for sale, but it also shows properties for rent and lease. It is owned and operated by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) through a wholly owned subsidiary, and listings are posted through real estate brokerages. For renters, that means a steady mix of condo units, townhouses and detached houses, often rented out by individual owners who have hired an agent.
What REALTOR.ca offers renters
Rental listings show the monthly rent, address, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, approximate square footage and the name of the brokerage handling the listing. You can switch between a map and a list, set minimum and maximum prices, choose beds and baths, and open more filters. The map lets you draw your own boundary around the area you want, and you can save a search so new rentals show up for you later.
Because a licensed brokerage is named on each listing, you have a concrete starting point for checking who you are dealing with. That does not make every interaction risk-free, but it gives you a business you can look up.
How to search step by step
- Open the Find a Home search and choose the option to show properties for rent or lease rather than for sale.
- Enter a city or neighbourhood and switch to the map view.
- Draw a boundary around the area you want, then set your price range, bedrooms and bathrooms.
- Sort by newest so you see recently added rentals first, and save the search.
- Open listings and note the brokerage name, the monthly rent, what is included and the available date.
- Contact the listing agent to ask questions and book a viewing. Ask what the landlord requires in an application.
Deposits, applications and fees in Canada
Renting through an agent does not change the tenancy rules where you live. Each province and territory sets its own rules for deposits, rent increases and ending a tenancy. In Ontario, for example, landlords may collect a last month's rent deposit and a refundable key deposit, and most residential leases must use the province's standard lease. In British Columbia, a security deposit is capped at half of one month's rent.
Agents for landlords often ask for a rental application, references, proof of income and a credit report. A landlord needs your consent before sharing your personal information with a credit reporting agency. Ask the agent to explain any fee before you agree to it, and get every term in writing.
Tips and scam warnings
Scammers sometimes copy photos and details from real listings and repost them elsewhere at a lower price. To protect yourself:
- Contact the brokerage named on the listing directly, using contact details you look up yourself, rather than a phone number or email given in an unrelated ad.
- Confirm the agent is licensed with your provincial real estate regulator.
- View the unit in person before paying anything, and never send a deposit without a written lease.
- Be wary of anyone who asks for payment by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency.
- Get receipts for all payments and keep copies of your lease and application.
If something seems off, report it to the brokerage and to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
Frequently asked questions
Does REALTOR.ca have rental listings?
Yes. Alongside homes for sale, REALTOR.ca shows properties for rent and lease, with the listing brokerage named on each one.
Do I have to pay the agent a fee to rent?
That depends on the arrangement and local rules. Ask the agent to explain any fee in writing before you agree to anything.
How can I tell if a REALTOR.ca rental ad I saw elsewhere is real?
Contact the brokerage named on the official listing using contact details you find yourself, and confirm the unit and price before paying.
Sources
Disclaimer: This guide is general information only and may not fit your situation or country. Rules, prices and requirements change, so check the details with the official source or a qualified professional before you act. Read our full disclaimer.