Last updated: October 2026

If you are a Toronto landlord getting ready to rent out a condo, house or townhouse, one of the first questions you may have is: how much does it cost to hire a Realtor to find a tenant?

The answer depends on the brokerage and the services being provided. There is no government-set or RECO-approved rental commission in Ontario. The fee and services are agreed between the landlord and the brokerage in the representation agreement.

For the Toronto landlords I represent, my rental listing and tenant placement fee is one month’s rent plus HST.

What Does One Month’s Rent Plus HST Actually Mean?

If your property rents for $3,000 per month, the listing and tenant placement fee would be $3,000 plus Ontario HST. The HST rate in Ontario is currently 13%, making the total $3,390 in this example.

The important point is that the fee is tied to the monthly rent ultimately agreed to for the property. Before listing, I review comparable rental properties and current competition so we can establish an asking rent that is realistic for the Toronto market rather than simply choosing the highest number we hope to achieve.

What Is Included in My Toronto Rental Listing Service?

The service begins with pricing the property. I look at recent comparable rentals, competing listings, the building or neighbourhood, the condition of the property, parking, locker, utilities, furnishings and other features that can affect what tenants are prepared to pay.

Once the property is ready, the rental is marketed through MLS® and distributed to the broader real estate marketplace. I coordinate showing requests and communication with cooperating REALTORS®, prospective tenants and, where applicable, the existing tenant or condominium concierge.

When applications are received, I help organize and review the information provided. This can include credit information, employment documentation, rental history, landlord references and other supporting information where appropriate. Tenant selection must also comply with the Ontario Human Rights Code, so applications need to be assessed consistently and fairly.

I then assist with the offer, negotiation, deposit arrangements and lease documentation. For most residential tenancies in Ontario, the Ontario Standard Lease is required.

Who Pays the Realtor Who Represents the Tenant?

Many Toronto tenants searching through MLS® are represented by their own REALTOR®. When another brokerage represents the successful tenant on one of my rental listings, compensation is offered to that cooperating brokerage from the listing fee.

With my rental listings, half of the listing fee is generally offered to the cooperating brokerage representing the tenant. That does not mean the landlord pays a second full commission on top of the agreed listing fee.

Is One Month’s Rent a Mandatory Toronto Rental Commission?

No. This is an important distinction.

RECO makes it clear that real estate remuneration is not fixed or approved by RECO, a government authority, a real estate association or a real estate board. Different brokerages may charge different amounts and may include different services.

That is why landlords should look beyond the advertised fee and ask exactly what is included. A lower-cost service that only posts a listing is very different from full rental representation that includes pricing advice, marketing, showing coordination, application review, negotiation and lease preparation.

Do I Need Property Management After the Tenant Moves In?

No. Hiring me to find your tenant does not require you to sign up for ongoing property management.

My landlord service is designed primarily for owners who want professional help finding and placing a tenant but intend to manage the property themselves once the tenancy begins.

I do not provide ongoing property management, monthly rent collection, maintenance management or Landlord and Tenant Board representation.

This distinction is useful for Toronto landlords who are comfortable managing their own investment property but would rather have help with the part of the process that can be particularly time-consuming: pricing the rental, marketing it, arranging showings, reviewing applications and putting the tenancy together.

Is Hiring a Realtor to Find a Tenant Worth the Cost?

For some landlords, yes. Others may prefer to handle the process themselves.

The comparison is not simply between paying a Realtor and paying nothing. Landlords also need to consider the cost of vacancy, incorrect pricing, weak marketing, time spent coordinating showings and the importance of carefully reviewing the applications they receive.

A property that is priced too high can sit vacant while comparable rentals lease around it. A property that is marketed poorly may attract fewer qualified applicants. And once a tenancy begins, correcting a poor decision can be considerably more difficult than taking the time to make a careful decision at the beginning.

A Realtor cannot guarantee how a tenant will behave in the future. The goal is to create a professional process that gives the landlord better information before making the final decision.

Do Landlords Get to Choose the Tenant?

Yes. The landlord remains involved in the decision.

My role is to help organize the application, verify available information, identify questions or inconsistencies and provide context. The landlord ultimately decides whether to accept an applicant, subject of course to Ontario’s rental-housing and human-rights requirements.

Ontario human-rights guidance allows landlords to request information such as rental history, credit references and credit checks, and income information may also be considered within the rules. Tenant-screening practices must not discriminate on protected grounds, and arbitrary rent-to-income cut-offs should not be used.

What Kind of Toronto Rental Properties Do I List?

I work with Toronto landlords renting condominiums, houses, townhouses and other residential investment properties.

Condo rentals often involve additional details such as building rules, minimum lease terms, elevator reservations, parking, lockers, keys, fobs, tenant registration and move-in procedures. Those details should be confirmed before the property is marketed so they do not become problems after a tenant has been selected.

Can a Realtor Help Me Determine How Much Rent to Charge?

Yes. In fact, I think this is one of the most valuable parts of the process.

The asking price should be based primarily on what comparable Toronto properties are actually leasing for, not simply what other landlords are currently asking. Current listings tell us the competition. Recent leased properties help tell us what tenants have actually been willing to pay.

Even within the same condominium building, rent can change depending on floor level, view, exposure, parking, locker, layout, upgrades and condition.

Frequently Asked Questions About Toronto Rental Realtor Fees

How much does a Realtor charge a landlord to rent out a property in Toronto?

My rental listing and tenant placement fee is one month’s rent plus HST. Brokerage fees are not fixed across the industry, so landlords should confirm both the fee and the services included before signing a representation agreement.

Does HST apply to a Realtor’s rental commission in Ontario?

Yes. Ontario currently has a 13% HST rate, which applies to taxable real estate brokerage services.

Does the landlord have to pay another fee if the tenant has a Realtor?

With my rental listings, compensation for the successful tenant’s cooperating brokerage is generally paid from the agreed listing fee. It is not an additional second full listing fee.

Can I hire a Realtor just to find a tenant without property management?

Yes. That is exactly the type of landlord service I provide. I can help list the property and place the tenant while you continue to manage the rental yourself after occupancy.

Can I rent out my Toronto property myself?

Yes. Ontario landlords are not required to hire a Realtor to find a tenant. Some landlords prefer to manage the pricing, advertising, showings, applications and paperwork themselves, while others hire a Realtor to handle the leasing process.

Does a Realtor guarantee that a tenant will always pay the rent?

No. Tenant screening can help a landlord make a more informed decision, but nobody can guarantee a tenant’s future behaviour or financial circumstances.

Do I need to use the Ontario Standard Lease?

For most residential tenancies in Ontario, the prescribed Ontario Standard Lease is required. There are some exceptions for certain types of accommodation.

What should I do if I am not sure what my Toronto property would rent for?

Start with a rental assessment. Reviewing recent comparable leases and the current competition can provide a realistic range before you decide whether to list the property.

Jarrett Hunter, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Your Community Realty
Toronto rental listings, tenant placement and investment property guidance

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Sources: Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO); Canada Revenue Agency; Government of Ontario Standard Lease guidance; Ontario Human Rights Commission. This article provides general information and is not legal advice.