Published 2 November 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
A landlord can ask, but cannot require them. Section 108 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act bans landlords and leases from requiring post-dated cheques, automatic debits or credit card charges for rent, including from applicants. You cannot be refused a unit or evicted for saying no. Once you agree on a payment method, it changes only if both sides agree.
This guide is for Ontario tenants who have been asked for a stack of post-dated cheques or a pre-authorized debit form, and for landlords who want a payment setup that is both convenient and legal. You will learn what a landlord can ask for, what they cannot insist on, how to change a payment method, and what happens when a cheque bounces.
Can a landlord ask for post-dated cheques in Ontario?
A landlord can ask, but cannot require them. Section 108 of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 (the RTA) says that neither a landlord nor a lease can require a tenant, or someone applying to rent, to:
- give post-dated cheques or other negotiable instruments for rent, or
- allow automatic debits from a bank account, automatic credit card charges or any other automatic payment for rent.
The Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) puts it simply in its brochure for new tenants: these payment methods can be suggested, but a tenant cannot be refused a rental unit or evicted for refusing to give them.
So the word that matters is “require”. If you are happy to give post-dated cheques or set up automatic payments, you can. If you are not, you can choose another method the landlord accepts, such as a monthly cheque or e-transfer.
This is general information as of November 2026, not legal advice. For your own situation, contact the LTB, a community legal clinic, a paralegal or a lawyer.
Can a landlord refuse to rent to me if I won’t give post-dated cheques?
No. The ban in s. 108 covers prospective tenants as well as current ones, and the LTB says you cannot be refused a unit for saying no. A lease clause that requires post-dated cheques is also void, because any lease term that conflicts with the RTA has no effect (s. 4).
In practice, it helps to offer an alternative instead of a flat refusal. Something like “I’d prefer to pay by e-transfer on the first of each month, and I’m happy to send proof of each payment” usually settles it. Landlords mostly want reliability, not a particular piece of paper. My guide to what a landlord can ask on a rental application lists the other things a landlord can and cannot demand before you sign.
Which rent payment methods are allowed in Ontario?
Any method you and the landlord agree on. Ontario’s standard lease has a rent section that records when rent is due, who it is paid to, which payment methods will be used, and any administration charge for returned cheques. Here is how the rules apply to common methods.
| Payment method | Can the landlord require it? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Post-dated cheques | No | Can be offered by the tenant (RTA s. 108) |
| Pre-authorized debit from a bank account | No | Can be offered by the tenant (s. 108) |
| Automatic credit card charge | No | Can be offered by the tenant (s. 108) |
| Monthly cheque, e-transfer or cash | Agreed in the lease | Record it in the rent section of the standard lease |
| Extra fee for using a certain method | No | Fees beyond rent are banned (s. 134) |
| Receipt for any payment | Tenant can demand one | Free, on request; former tenants within 12 months (s. 109) |
| Returned (NSF) cheque charges | Allowed | Bank’s actual charge plus up to $20 admin (O. Reg. 516/06, s. 17) |
Source: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, ss. 4, 108, 109, 134; O. Reg. 516/06, s. 17; Guide to Ontario’s standard lease; LTB brochure “Information for New Tenants” (current as of November 2026).
If you are signing a new lease, fill in the payment method in the rent section rather than leaving it blank. If your lease is older or silent on how rent is paid, the practical answer is the method you have actually been using. Send your landlord a short email confirming it, so both of you have the same record. That small step prevents most disputes about payment methods, especially when a property manager changes or the home is sold.
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Can a landlord change how I pay rent?
Not on their own. The LTB’s guide to the RTA says that once a landlord and tenant agree on a method of payment, it cannot be changed unless both of them agree. The standard lease guide adds that any change to the agreement must be agreed to in writing.
That works both ways. A landlord cannot suddenly insist that you switch to pre-authorized debit. But if you agreed to post-dated cheques, you cannot simply cancel them either. You can ask to switch, and most landlords will agree to a reasonable alternative. Put the new arrangement in writing and have both sides sign it.
If the property is sold, your lease, including the agreed payment method, carries on with the new owner, because lease terms run with the property (RTA s. 18). Any change still needs both sides to agree.
What happens if a post-dated cheque bounces?
Two things. First, the landlord can charge you what their bank actually charged for the returned cheque, plus an administration charge of no more than $20 (O. Reg. 516/06, s. 17). Nothing more. A “returned payment penalty” of $50 or $100 is not allowed.
Second, the rent is now unpaid. The landlord can serve an N4 notice. For notices given on or after 21 September 2026, the termination date can be as early as 7 days after the notice is given. If you pay everything you owe before the landlord files with the LTB, the LTB says the notice is void. My guide to the N4 notice explains the process from both sides.
Repeated bounced cheques can also add up to persistent late payment. As of 21 September 2026, that includes paying more than seven days late at least three times in six months (O. Reg. 516/06, s. 8.1). Replace a bounced cheque quickly, by a method that clears right away.
What should I do with post-dated cheques when the rent goes up?
Replace or top them up before the increase takes effect. A landlord must give at least 90 days’ written notice of a rent increase, and it can only take effect 12 months after your last increase or move-in (ss. 116 and 119). For 2027, the guideline for most rent-controlled units is 1.9%. My post on rent increases in 2027 has the details.
If your remaining cheques are for the old amount, each one will be short by the increase. A short payment is still unpaid rent. The easy fix is to agree in writing with the landlord on one of these:
- You send a separate payment for the difference each month.
- The landlord returns the old cheques and you give new ones at the new amount.
- You both switch to a different method from the increase date.
Ask for the old cheques back, or written confirmation they were destroyed, so there is no confusion later.
If you pay in cash, always get a receipt. The RTA says a landlord must give one free of charge when asked (s. 109), and the regulation says a receipt must at least show the unit address, the tenants’ names, the amount and date of each payment and what it was for, the landlord’s name, and the landlord’s or agent’s signature (O. Reg. 516/06, s. 9). Without receipts, a cash tenant can struggle to prove payment at an LTB hearing. Failing to give a receipt is also an offence under s. 234 of the RTA.
Why do landlords ask for post-dated cheques, and should tenants agree?
Landlords like post-dated cheques because they do not have to chase rent each month, and a missing payment shows up at once. Many tenants like them too: one task a year and no risk of forgetting.
Before you agree, think about these points:
- Your balance on the first. A cheque that bounces because your pay landed a day late still costs you the bank charge and the $20 admin charge.
- How many cheques. A one-year lease paid monthly needs twelve. Avoid giving cheques for dates beyond any planned move or rent change.
- Your records. Write down each cheque number, date and amount, and keep the list with your lease.
- Your lease terms. Make sure the agreed payment method is written into the rent section of the standard lease, so it cannot be changed later without both of you agreeing.
For landlords setting up a new tenancy, my guide to finding and screening tenants covers the full process, and the rules on deposits are in my guide to Ontario rental deposit rules.
When I lease out a condo or house for a client, I suggest the landlord offer two or three options, such as post-dated cheques, e-transfer or pre-authorized debit, and let the tenant pick. The choice goes in the lease, and that is the end of it. Landlords who insist on one method risk a dispute they cannot win. Tenants who refuse every option they are offered start the relationship on the wrong foot. Agree on something that works for both of you, write it down, and keep receipts.
What to do next
- Check the rent section of your standard lease to see which payment method you agreed to.
- If you are applying for a unit, offer a reliable alternative to post-dated cheques if you prefer not to give them.
- Keep a log of cheque numbers, dates and amounts, or save every e-transfer confirmation.
- Ask for a receipt for any cash payment, every time.
- Before a rent increase starts, agree in writing how the difference will be paid.
Need help with this? Talk to me.
I’m Jatin Dua, Broker of Record at RE/MAX Quantum Realty, and I’m the best agent to do this kind of work for you in Toronto and across the GTA. Over $100 million in GTA sales and 100+ families helped sell. Feel free to contact me any time: call or text 833-330-1925 or email [email protected].
Frequently asked questions
Can a landlord require post-dated cheques in Ontario?
No. Section 108 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act says neither a landlord nor a lease can require a tenant or prospective tenant to provide post-dated cheques for rent. A landlord can suggest them, and a tenant can choose to give them. The Landlord and Tenant Board says a tenant cannot be refused a unit or evicted for refusing.
Can a landlord make me pay rent by automatic withdrawal in Ontario?
No. Section 108 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act also bans requiring automatic bank debits, automatic credit card charges or any other automatic rent payment. A tenant can agree to pre-authorized debit if they want to. Once a payment method is agreed, the Landlord and Tenant Board says it can only be changed if both the landlord and tenant agree.
Can a landlord turn down my rental application over post-dated cheques in Ontario?
No. In Ontario, the ban on requiring post-dated cheques covers people applying to rent, not only current tenants. The Landlord and Tenant Board’s brochure for new tenants says you cannot be refused a rental unit for refusing to give post-dated cheques or automatic debit. A lease clause requiring them is void under the Residential Tenancies Act.
Can I cancel post-dated cheques I gave my landlord in Ontario?
Not on your own if you agreed to them as the payment method. Ontario’s Landlord and Tenant Board says an agreed payment method can only be changed if both landlord and tenant agree. Ask your landlord to switch to another method and confirm the change in writing. Stopping a cheque without agreement leaves the rent unpaid and can lead to an N4 notice.
How many post-dated cheques can a landlord ask for in Ontario?
The Residential Tenancies Act sets no number, because a landlord cannot require any. If a tenant chooses to give them, the number is whatever both sides agree. A one-year Ontario lease paid monthly would need twelve. Avoid giving cheques dated after a planned move or a rent increase, and keep a list of every cheque number and amount.
What is the NSF fee a landlord can charge in Ontario?
An Ontario landlord can charge the actual NSF fee their bank charged for a returned cheque, plus an administration charge of no more than $20. Both are allowed by section 17 of O. Reg. 516/06. A larger flat penalty for a bounced cheque is not allowed. The rent itself is still owed and must be paid by another method.
Does my landlord have to give me a rent receipt in Ontario?
Yes, if you ask. Section 109 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act requires a landlord to give a free receipt for rent, a rent deposit, arrears or any other payment. A former tenant can ask within 12 months after moving out. Under O. Reg. 516/06, a receipt must show the address, tenant names, amount, date, purpose, landlord name and signature.
Can a landlord charge a fee for paying rent by cheque or cash in Ontario?
No. Section 134 of Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act bans landlords from charging fees, premiums or penalties beyond lawful rent, except the few charges allowed by regulation, such as NSF charges. A surcharge for paying by cheque, cash or e-transfer is not one of them. A tenant who paid one can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year to recover it.
Is e-transfer an acceptable way to pay rent in Ontario?
Yes, if you and your landlord agree to it. Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act does not list approved payment methods. It only stops a landlord from requiring post-dated cheques or automatic payments. Record e-transfer as the payment method in the rent section of the standard lease, save every confirmation, and ask for a receipt if you need one for your records.
Sources
- Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, S.O. 2006, c. 17 (e-Laws, current consolidation)
- O. Reg. 516/06 (General) under the Residential Tenancies Act, ss. 8.1, 9, 17
- Landlord and Tenant Board: Information for New Tenants
- Landlord and Tenant Board: A Guide to the Residential Tenancies Act
- Ontario: Guide to Ontario’s standard lease
- Landlord and Tenant Board: If a Tenant Does Not Pay Rent (updated 21 September 2026)
Related reading
- Can My Landlord Enter Without Notice in Ontario?
- Can a Landlord Evict You Without Going to the LTB in Ontario?
- Can My Landlord Raise the Rent Every Year in Ontario? 2027 Rules
- Can a Landlord Put Security Cameras in or Outside a Rental in Ontario?
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.