Terms of tenancy agreement

There are two types of tenancy agreement, ‘Periodic tenancy agreement’ and ‘Fixed term tenancy agreement’ that a landlord may choose to sign with a tenant.

Periodic tenancy – no specific end date, e.g. month-to-month, it continues until the landlord or tenant serve notice or both decide to end the tenancy. 

Fixed term tenancy – A tenancy set for a specific period of time (e.g. a year, a month or a week). At the end of a fixed-term tenancy agreement, the landlord and tenant can agree to another fixed term or the tenancy continues on a month-to-month basis. Rent can only be increased between fixed-term tenancy agreements with the same tenant if the notice and timing requirements for Rent Increases are met. The tenancy cannot be ended earlier than the date fixed unless landlord and tenant agree in writing, unless 1) tenant is fleeing family violence or the tenant has been assessed as requiring long-term care or has been accepted into a long-term care facility; 2) as ordered by an arbitrator.

Both landlord and tenant must sign and date the tenancy agreement.

All tenancy agreements must be prepared in writing and must set out the following:

• the standard terms;
• the correct legal names of the landlord and tenant;
• the address of the rental unit;
• the date the tenancy agreement is entered into;
• the address and telephone number of the landlord or the landlord’s agent;
• the date on which the tenancy starts;
• the date on which the tenancy ends;
• the day in the month on which the rent is due;
• which services and facilities are included in the rent;
• the amount of any security deposit or pet damage deposit and the date the security deposit or pet damage deposit was or must be paid;

Landlords need to provide a printed copy to the tenant within 21 days of entering into the agreement.

租約類別

業主與租客可簽的租約：

Periodic - 沒有列明租約期的租約（如每月計），租約至業主或租客通知對方或雙方決定終止租約為止

或

Fixed term - 有列明租約期的租約 （如1年、1個月、1個星期）。租約不能在租約期滿前提前完，除非（1）雙方以書面同意提早解約、（2）特殊情況，如租客因家暴需要離開、或租客被診斷需接受長期照顧或需入住長期照顧中心、（3）仲裁判令。當租約期滿，業主和租客可另訂一個租約期或以每月形式繼續租下去；

業主和租客需在租約上簽名及日期作實。

租約必需以書面訂立並清楚列明：

• 標準的租約條款
• 房東及租客的名字
• 出租單位的地址
• 租約訂立的日期
• 房東或其代理人的地址及聯絡電話
• 租約的開始日期
• 租約的終止日期
• 租客每月支付租金的到期日
• 租金包含的服務及設施範圍
• 上期按金或寵物按金的金額及支付日期

業主在簽約後21天內給租客一份租約副本。