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                                                                     Last Month's Rent

Your landlord can ask you to pay last month's rent before you move in. Make sure you get a receipt for your last month's rent and ask your landlord for a rent receipt each month. Your landlord must supply a receipt for any rent payment, rent deposit, or other charge, if you ask for one.

Your landlord cannot require you to pay illegal deposits. Check with the Peterborough Community Legal Centre if you think you have paid an illegal deposit or charge.
If your rent increases in the future, your landlord may ask you to pay more for your last month’s rent deposit, so it matches your new rent. Your landlord must pay you interest each year on your last month’s rent deposit. The province sets the amount of interest each year. For 2009, the interest rate is 1.8 %.

If you do not have enough money for last month's rent, you can try to make payment arrangements with the landlord. If the landlord won’t accept payment arrangements, you may be able to get assistance through one of the following sources:

If you are on Ontario Works or ODSP, you may be eligible for the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB), or for Discretionary Benefits. If you receive Ontario Works, ask your worker about the Community Start Up and Discretionary Benefits. If you receive ODSP, ask your worker about Community Start up. If you don't have any Community Start Up left, you can call Ontario Works to ask about Discretionary Benefits. If you have used up all your benefits, you may be eligible for some help with last month's rent from the Housing Resource Centre.

If you are not on social assistance, you may be eligible for assistance through Ontario Works Emergency Assistance or through the Housing Resource Centre.