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Rental companies usually require you toÌýsubmitÌýan application (check out this example provided by CMHCÌý[PDF-161kb]). The purpose is to show thatÌýyou'llÌýbe a good tenant by abiding by the rental agreement, committing to the duration of theÌýleaseÌýand paying rent on time. OnceÌýyou'veÌýsigned a lease,Ìýit'sÌýdifficult to break the contract.

You may be asked to provide the following information:

• biographical information about yourself and any potential roommates

• information about whereÌýyou'veÌýlived before and offer referencesÌý

• proof of financial means and undergo a credit check

• provide details of a Canadian bank

• provide a guarantor if youÌýdon'tÌýhave full-time work

• pay a damage deposit (half a month's rent) to secure the apartmentÌý

• provide proof of tenant insurance. 

Note: It is illegal to ask for or charge an application fee.

A lease is a legal contract that defines your rights and responsibilities in terms of a rental property.

There areÌýthreeÌýtypes of lease contracts: one-year lease,Ìýmonth-to-month, and year-to-year.

• For a fixed term one-year lease, there is a specified beginning and end date. A fixed-term lease is a leasing agreement with a specified beginning and end date. Fixed term leases do not have a notice period. The tenancy period ends on the dateÌýstatedÌýin the lease. There is no right or obligation to stay in the rental unit after the fixed term lease ends. Rental increases are as specified in the lease. Ìý
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  YourÌýlandlordÌýmust give you permission to keep renting after the fixed term is over. If you reach the end date of your lease and yourÌýlandlordÌýdoes not ask you to leave, and you do not sign a new lease, your lease will automatically become a month-to-month lease. Ìý
  YouÌýmust stay for the full year and give threeÌýmonths' noticeÌýbefore the end of the lease. If you cannot stay the entire year, you might be able to sublet the apartment to someone else, but you are still responsible for the property.

• For a month-to-month lease, you must give one month's notice before vacating.

• For a year-to-year lease, the lease is automatically renewed for another year at the end of the current year. You must give 3 months' notice before the anniversary date to end the lease.

A sublet is a type of rental agreement between a tenant and a subtenant.ÌýThis means that the tenant of a rental unit finds someone else to rent their unit from them for a period of time. 

The landlord CAN charge you a subtenant or assignment fee. However, they CANNOT charge you more than $75 as a fee for letting you sublet. You CANNOT be charged for this unless the landlordÌýactually hadÌýto spend money for the new tenant to move in.

You must have permission from your landlord to sublet your apartment before someone new moves in.

In Nova Scotia, renters pay a damage or security deposit before moving in. The deposit cannot be any more than one half of one month's rent. The deposit is returned when you move out, if the apartment is found to be in the same condition as when you moved in.

A co-signer or guarantor is someone who can take responsibility of the tenants rent if theyÌýcannotÌýpay it themselves (usually a parent/ guardian). 

To estimate how much an apartment will cost you in addition to rental payments, be sure to ask the rental company for an estimate of any utilities that aren't included (heat, electricity, cable,ÌýinternetÌýand water). In winter months, furnace oil for a house can cost as much as $400/month. Also keep in mind that hooking up services, such as electricity, will involve a one-time connection fee.

Before you move in, the superintendent for the apartment building or representative for the leasing company should go through the apartment or house with you. TogetherÌýyou'llÌýfill in a form which reflects the state of the apartment when you checked in.

Look over the space carefully and be sure any existing damage or issues are written down. If yourÌýlandlordÌýdoesn'tÌýdo this with you, then do it yourself, including taking pictures, and send it to the rental company. This document will be used to decide how much damage deposit will be returned upon moving out, soÌýit'sÌýin your best interest to take it seriously.