In the FrontLobby

If you’re considering buying a home but can’t get a mortgage or don’t have enough money saved for a down payment, rent-to-own programs offer an alternative option to home ownership.

Having a good credit score is critical for many aspects of life, from renting an apartment to getting a loan. Credit scores not only affect how lenders view you, but also to what degree you can be approved for certain financial milestones.

The eviction process in Ontario is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and enforced by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The LTB is responsible for mediating disputes between Landlords and Tenants, adjudicating claims, and issuing orders when necessary.

The ability for Landlords to report Tenant rent payments to credit bureaus is relatively new. But it is one that is making waves across the country as Landlords seek to attract Tenants with histories of timely payments and avoiding those who have long lines of late payments, delinquencies, and even evictions in their past.

Tenant screening is often one of the least enjoyable aspects of managing a property. Yet, having a robust Tenant screening process is critical to minimizing risk and identifying the best fit for your rental. As part of that process, credit checks provide the essential resource of data needed to assess Tenant reliability and start the Tenant-Landlord relationship off on the right foot.

When my husband and I owned a property management business, we’d frequently get calls from new landlords in crisis.

One such call was from a man who bought and renovated a property. Sadly, he’d brought in less than stellar tenants and was at his wit’s end trying to evict them. What looked to him like two nice students who needed a break turned out to be professional tenants who had no intention of paying or leaving.