Reviewed by Nina Knudsen
Updated July 25, 2025 | Published July 24, 2025
Whether you’ve just started hunting for a rental or you’re already knee-deep in a lease, there’s one thing that can make or break your rental experience: your landlord.
A bad landlord can create more headaches than the rent is worth, so it pays to know the red flags early. Here are 12 signs to watch out for.
When searching for a rental, it’s easy to focus on the unit itself and forget that the landlord plays a huge role in your day-to-day comfort. In many cases, the state of the property reflects the person managing it. But not always.
Some red flags appear before you sign the rental agreement, while others become apparent only after you’ve moved in. Here’s what to look for at both stages:
If the landlord takes days to return your calls or emails—or doesn’t respond at all—that could be a sign of how things will go if there’s a problem later. You want a landlord who is responsive, just like how they would expect you, the tenant, to pay rent on time.
Not to mention, you will likely have many questions about the rental application, tenancy terms, and the unit itself before anything becomes official. And, if you’re looking into other properties simultaneously, you probably want answers to those questions in a timely manner. Your interactions with the landlord at the start often indicate how communication will continue after, so make sure they won’t be a hassle you want to be stuck with.
During a showing, pay close attention to the condition of the unit and the overall condition of the building. If you notice things like peeling paint, pest droppings, or leaky faucets, it may indicate that maintenance is being neglected.
A responsible landlord will take the time to prepare a rental home before listing it publicly. If they won’t clean up or repair issues to attract new tenants, don’t expect better treatment after you’ve signed the lease.
Before signing a lease, it’s worth doing a little digging. Tenants who have had bad experiences renting will often want to share them, usually in a place where it’d be most visible — the internet. Forums like Yelp and Reddit are common sites for sharing complaints and reviews. If the property management company has its own online presence (like a website or Google profile), you could potentially find something on the landlord. Pay special attention to recurring complaints, especially if they revolve around the landlord’s behaviour or responsiveness to repairs.
It might not be a dealbreaker if there are a couple of isolated negative reviews. But if there’s a consistent pattern, that should raise some concerns.
The rental process is a two-way agreement between you and the landlord. If you feel like you’re being pressured into a decision instead of being invited to make one, that may be a red flag. A landlord could manifest this in different ways, such as rushing you through a tour, refusing to provide a copy of the lease for your review, or pressuring you to pay deposits before anything is in writing.
They may try to create a sense of urgency by mentioning other interested applicants. This is normal, as most landlords will attempt to fill vacancies quickly to maintain rental income. However, it doesn’t mean you have to decide on the spot. Of course, if the rental house ticks all your boxes after the first viewing, you’re free to proceed with the rental application. A good landlord also won’t mind if you sleep on it for a day or two.
Take note if they ask inappropriate or overly personal questions or if their attitude towards you shifts after the first meeting. Fair housing laws prohibit landlords from discriminating against tenants based on age, race, disability, religion, family status, and other protected grounds. Although discrimination in housing isn’t always blatant, even subtle signs can be a cause for concern.
The rental contract sets the ground rules for your entire tenancy. It should clearly define the responsibilities of both you and the landlord, so make sure you read it carefully.
Watch for clauses that contradict local tenancy laws. For example, in Ontario, landlords can only collect a rent deposit (up to one month’s rent); damage deposits are not allowed.1 In BC, a damage deposit is allowed, but it’s capped at half of the first month’s rent — and the same cap applies to a pet deposit.2 Make sure they’re not charging you over the allowable amounts. If the landlord is taking a full month’s rent in deposits at their discretion, or a separate half-month’s rent for each pet you own, the Residential Tenancy Branch can fine them if your complaint reaches arbitration.
Be wary of vague or overly broad language. “Tenant responsible for any damage deemed excessive” is open to misuse, for example. Never agree to terms that give the landlord unrestricted access to the unit or require you to cover all maintenance costs. Though illegal, these can sometimes be abused.
Good communication shouldn’t stop once the rental contract is signed. If anything, it becomes even more crucial after you move in.
Let’s say you encounter a plumbing issue or a noisy neighbour situation. Problems like these will require a timely response, especially when they affect your ability to live comfortably. But that might seem impossible to do if the landlord takes days to respond to your calls or emails. Or worse, they promise to resolve the problem but never take action, or ignore it until it becomes a bigger nuisance.
You shouldn’t have to chase down your landlord to have them fulfill their legal duties.
Once you move in, the rental becomes your private space. Sure, the landlord might still retain ownership, but that doesn’t give them the right to barge in whenever they please. Provincial tenancy laws are strict about this; landlords must provide at least 24 hours’ written notice or get permission from the tenant to enter a unit legally, unless there’s an emergency. They must also give a valid reason for entry, such as to inspect the property, show it to prospective tenants, or complete repairs.
If you ever suspect your landlord is snooping around or entering your unit illegally, document it and look into local enforcement options.
Landlords are responsible for maintaining both your unit and shared spaces in good condition (although you also play a part in this). Pay attention to how upkeep is being handled. Are common areas cleaned and maintained regularly? Do shared amenities, such as laundry rooms or elevators, remain in working order? Are they quick to address a pest issue that sprang up in the building? If your answer is no to any of these questions, you might be dealing with a negligent landlord.
Inside your unit, issues should be fixed promptly. If your heater breaks in the summer, the landlord can’t have you wait until winter to arrange the repairs. If there’s a clogged pipe or a leaking ceiling, they should address it before it leads to bigger damage. Stoves, washing machines, and other essential appliances need to be in working order, especially if they’re included in your rent. It’s the landlord’s responsibility to ensure you’re not left without — or at the very least, to offer some kind of compensation for losing that service. For example, if the dryer is out of order, they may supply a drying rack so you can manage drying your clothes. If the washing machine isn’t working, they may offer reimbursement for using a laundromat.
Landlords who stay on top of these issues will often make a big difference in your day-to-day comfort.
Your landlord may attempt to impose a rent increase to help offset certain costs, such as building maintenance or a mortgage. However, by most provincial laws, rent increases must follow certain rules:
If your landlord hikes your rent outside of these conditions, you may have grounds to dispute the increase. It may also be a sign your landlord isn’t playing fair.
If your lease promises parking, laundry access, and some utilities, the landlord must ensure those services are available during your tenancy. They can’t remove or limit included services without updating the lease and providing proper notice.
Even with non-essential services like Wi-Fi or storage, removing them without adjusting the lease terms may constitute a breach of contract. And if they restrict essentials like heat or water, that would be a serious violation.
Some landlords may overstep their role by trying to control how you live in your home. Common oversteps include things like banning guests, insisting on curfews, or requiring permission for overnight visitors. By most provincial standards, such demands would be considered unreasonable (and sometimes illegal).
Tenants have the right to privacy, fair treatment, and the peaceful enjoyment of their rental unit. Anything the landlord does to violate that could be considered a breach of contract.
If your landlord tends to make promises—whether it’s about fixing something, adjusting rent, or upgrading amenities—but refuses to put anything in writing, that’s a major red flag.
Verbal agreements are difficult to enforce. Without a written record, you have little protection if the landlord goes back on their word — that’s not a position any tenant wants to be in. Always get important commitments in writing.
For modifications to the tenancy (like rent increases and evictions), the landlord must use the correct form from your province’s rental authority. If they’re avoiding that or relying on handshake agreements instead, it could be a sign they’re trying to avoid accountability.
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If you’re still in the initial phases of your rental search and have deep concerns about a potential landlord, the easiest (and probably healthiest) solution is to walk away and look elsewhere.
If you’re facing issues during your tenancy, there are a couple of things you can do:
Start by submitting a written request and keep a copy for your records. If the landlord fails to arrange for the repairs after multiple requests, you may be able to escalate the issue through your provincial tenancy board.
Depending on the ruling, the resolution may involve a court order for the landlord to repair the unit, monetary compensation for the tenant, approval to withhold rent, or cancellation of the eviction notice.
A landlord can’t simply evict you for raising concerns about issues with the property. This would be considered a retaliatory eviction.4 While it’s not explicitly illegal in every province, most prohibit the behaviour in practice. Landlords are expected to act in good faith when trying to evict a tenant.
If you believe the eviction comes in bad faith, you may be able to challenge it through legal channels. Most provinces offer dispute resolution options if the landlord didn’t follow proper notice procedure or lacked valid grounds to evict you. The deadlines and process vary by province, so check your local Residential Tenancies Act to see what applies where you live. Tenants who purchased legal protection insurance from Square One can also contact the legal helpline for guidance on how to dispute an eviction notice.
Keep copies of notices (and other favourable proof) from your landlord handy. If you must present your case at a hearing, they will form the evidence for the investigation.
Breaking a fixed-term tenancy early can be tricky, but it’s possible under certain conditions. For example, if the landlord breaches their responsibilities, such as failing to ensure a safe and livable space. In such cases, the tenant can apply to their provincial tenancy board or equivalent authority for an order to terminate the agreement early, possibly without penalty.
That said, ending a lease early often comes with consequences, especially if it’s done without proper notice. Each province has its own rules and penalties, but to put it simply, tenants may still be liable for rent (and potentially risk losing their deposit) if the landlord can’t find someone to occupy the unit.
The easiest way to end a tenancy without penalty is to sign a Mutual Agreement to End Tenancy form. This document, signed by both the tenant and landlord, outlines an agreement in which both parties mutually agree to terminate the tenancy without any outstanding obligations to each other. However, this will only work if both parties are on board.
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About the expert: Nina Knudsen
Nina Knudsen has 12 years of property management experience under her belt. Nina is part of the team at Royal LePage Sussex, bringing her experience to the company’s Property Management division as the Managing director of the Hello Rent team.
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