Hey everyone, I’ve been going through the rental process here in Ontario and noticed something that’s got me scratching my head: some landlords are asking for 3 to 6 months of rent upfront. I know it’s common for deposits, but paying months in advance feels… off. I’ve read that in Ontario, the standard lease allows for one month’s rent as a security deposit, and that’s it—no extra prepaid rent. But I’ve seen posts from other newcomers where landlords are demanding full upfront payments, sometimes even before signing a lease.

I’m trying to figure out what’s actually legal versus what could be a scam. For example, if a landlord says they need three months’ rent up front because they “don’t want to deal with bad tenants,” is that a red flag? Or is there a legitimate reason in certain cases? I know some provinces have different rules, so I’m wondering:
- What’s the legal limit on prepaid rent in your province?
- How do you verify if a request is standard or a scam?

I’ve also heard that if you do pay anything, you should always get a written receipt and make sure it’s clearly labeled—like “prepaid rent” or “security deposit”—so it’s not confused later. And obviously, you shouldn’t pay anything before signing a lease or verifying the landlord’s identity and property details.

I’m still nervous, especially since I’m new and don’t know the local norms. I’ve seen some people say they’ve been burned by landlords who took the money and vanished. So, what’s your experience?

If you’re in Ontario or another province, what would you check first when a landlord asks for months of rent in advance? What details matter most to you—like written documentation, lease terms, or something else? Would love to hear how others are handling this.

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