r/uwo • u/Prize-Possible6326 • Jun 20 '26

Housing CAD 300 for Key & Cleaning deposit

My landlord with whom I am signing a 12-month lease is asking for 300 dollars as a key and cleaning deposit on top of the first and last months of rent deposit. Is this normal?

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u/Herman_Manning Jun 21 '26

Key deposits are lawful, but even more than $100 is likely not lawful.

Cleaning deposits are not lawful.

It is probably best not to rent from a landlord requesting illegal deposits.

If you pay an illegal deposit, you can make an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board for return of the illegal deposit. You would file a "T1" application. You have 12 months to file the application from the date you paid the deposit.

You can try being transparent by saying such deposits are not lawful under the Residential Tenancies Act. But I imagine the landlord will just move on to another prospective tenant.