Hello Leaseholders, and Welcome to Senior Women Living Together
If you are renting more space than you need and want to have a homemate to share the space, you are very welcome here at Senior Women Living Together.
However, there are some things you need to understand before you become a member and start looking for homemates.
Our requirement for leaseholders…..
Only renters who are named on a lease are covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. This means that if your homemate does not sign the lease, she will have no legal protection or rights.
So, in order to protect our members, we require that leaseholders ensure their potential homemates will be able to sign the lease.
Most of the time, there is no problem arranging this. However, some condo corporations will simply not allow it. Also, some landlords may initially refuse to allow it.
Before you become a member here, you need to discuss this with your landlord. We require that you formally acknowledge that your landlord has agreed. This will reassure your potential homemates that living with you will be safe and secure.
You can download and read our Leaseholder Declaration.
Tips for negotiating with the landlord….
Your landlord may say that a new lease will be needed and/or that the rent will be increased. However, there is no law that requires a new lease be drafted.
Also, there is no reason that the rent should be increased. When we sign a lease, the amount of the rent is always based on the space, not on the number of people.
The only law that applies are bylaws about overcrowding. Adding just one or even two homemates will not be construed as overcrowding if each of you has a bedroom. The standard regulation for most regions in Ontario require less than 100 sq. ft. per person.
Compromise is the key…..
If you are not madly in love with the space you are renting and/or your relationship with the landlord has never been great, you might consider moving somewhere else with your chosen homemate.
If you decide to stay, you may need to help your landlord understand the nature of your relationship with your new homemate. Explaining that your homemate is not just a roommate but rather a long-term companion may help. Letting your landlord know that it will be much easier for you to manage the rental costs may also help.
Sometimes, landlords don’t want to collect rent from two people, so you can assure them that the total monthly rent will be made in one payment.
If the landlord has a concern about higher costs for utilities since there will be two people, you can agree to a reasonable increase.
The point here is to make some compromises unless the landlord’s demands are excessive.
After you have agreement from your landlord ….
Once you know that your landlord will accept another person of your choice and will allow that person to sign the lease, you need to contact us.
We will ask for your formal acknowledgment of the Declaration. Then, you can become a member and start actively looking for homemates.