How Much Does a Realtor Charge to Lease a House in Ontario?
Commonly one month's rent plus HST for a 12-month lease, shared with the tenant's agent (half a month each). Enter your rent to see what that costs you, and what you'd pay with a flat fee MLS® lease listing instead.
Updated October 5, 2026
What leasing your home costs: agent vs flat fee
Commission isn't set by law: it's agreed with the brokerage, so enter what you've been quoted. On a shorter lease, agents commonly pro-rate it (three-quarters of a month for 9 months, half for 6). Ontario listings, 13% HST on every commission and on our plan.
Enter the monthly rent and the lease length. Leasing agent: the fee you've been quoted, commonly one month's rent for a 12-month lease, plus HST; the agent pays the tenant's agent their share out of it. Flat fee listing: our plan plus what you choose to offer the tenant's agent (half a month's rent is common; one month's rent draws more agents), plus HST. The tenant's agent is only paid if their client signs your lease, so when a tenant finds you on their own, you pay the plan alone.
The short answer: one month's rent, plus HST
In Ontario a leasing agent is commonly paid one month's rent for finding a tenant on a 12-month lease, plus 13% HST. The landlord pays it, usually on the day the lease starts, out of the first month's rent or the last month's deposit. The listing agent keeps half a month's rent and pays the other half a month to the tenant's agent, if the tenant came with one (Filipe & Isabel Ferreira, updated September 25, 2026).
On a shorter lease, agents commonly pro-rate it: three-quarters of a month's rent for 9 months, half a month for 6 months. In most cases the tenant pays nothing for their own agent.
| Rent a month | Leasing agent (one month + HST) | Flat fee + half a month to the tenant's agent, + HST | Flat fee, tenant without an agent |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2,000 | $2,260.00 | $1,242.99 | $112.99 |
| $2,500 | $2,825.00 | $1,525.49 | $112.99 |
| $3,000 | $3,390.00 | $1,807.99 | $112.99 |
| $3,500 | $3,955.00 | $2,090.49 | $112.99 |
Is the leasing commission negotiable?
Yes. No law, regulator or board sets it. RECO's guide, which every brokerage must give you, says: "You and the brokerage decide the amount you will pay for services. The amount is not fixed or approved by RECO, any government authority, or any real estate association or real estate board" (RECO Information Guide). Ask what the fee covers, whether it changes with the lease length, and how much goes to the tenant's agent, then put it in the listing agreement.
What a leasing agent does for the fee
- Prices the rent against similar units nearby.
- Lists it on the MLS® System and realtor.ca, with photos and the description.
- Answers inquiries and books showings, usually being there for each one.
- Collects applications and checks credit, income and references with the applicant's consent.
- Prepares the lease on Ontario's Standard Form of Lease and collects the deposit.
- Pays the tenant's agent their share of the commission.
Doing it yourself with a flat fee MLS® lease listing
With a flat fee listing (a mere posting), we put your rental on the MLS® System and realtor.ca for a set fee, so tenants' agents across Ontario see it. Inquiries come straight to you; you show it, choose the tenant and sign the lease. You still offer the tenant's agent a commission, half a month's rent being the common choice and one month's rent a way to stand out, and it's only paid if their client signs your lease.
The saving is the listing agent's half of the commission and its HST: about $1,300 on a $2,500 rental, every time a tenant changes. See how to list a rental on MLS® for the steps.
Which is right for you?
- A leasing agent if you live far from the property, can't be there for showings, or want someone to run the screening for you.
- A flat fee listing if you can show the unit yourself, want to choose your own tenant, or lease units out often: the fee is the same whatever the rent, so the saving grows with it.
- Either way, check the numbers: our cap rate calculator shows what the cost of finding tenants does to a rental's cash flow.
Questions
How much does a realtor charge to lease a house in Ontario?
Commonly one month's rent for a 12-month lease, plus 13% HST, paid by the landlord. The listing agent keeps half a month's rent and pays half a month to the tenant's agent. Shorter leases are often pro-rated. It's negotiable: no law sets it.
Who pays the realtor fee on a rental in Ontario?
Usually the landlord, on the day the lease starts, out of the first month's rent or the last month's deposit. The tenant normally pays nothing for their own agent.
How much do I offer the tenant's agent?
Half a month's rent is the common offer; one month's rent attracts more agents in a slow market. You can also offer a flat dollar amount. It's only paid if a tenant's agent brings the tenant who signs your lease.
Is HST charged on a leasing commission?
Yes. In Ontario, 13% HST is added to the commission paid to each brokerage, and to our flat fee.
Can I list my rental on MLS® without a leasing agent?
Yes, with a flat fee listing. A brokerage has to enter it on the MLS® System; with a flat fee listing you handle the showings and choose the tenant yourself. With us it's from $69.99 a month, or $99.99 for 2 months, plus HST.
Flat fee MLS® prices
| Plan | Price | 🎁 With code FREEUPGRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Subscription | $69.99 / month | — |
| 2-month Listing | $99.99 | You get the 3-month Listing, free |
| 3-month Listing | $119.99 | You get the 6-month Listing, free |
| 6-month Listing | $149.99 | You get the MAX Exposure Listing, free |
| MAX Exposure Listing | $239.99 | — |
Plus 13% HST on Ontario listings; no tax on Alberta listings. The monthly plan can be cancelled any time.
Own more than one rental? Pay once for the next tenants
A rental comes back to the market every time a tenant moves out. Buy listing credits in My Account after your first listing: 2 credits save 10%, 3 save 25%. Credits never expire, keep today's price and work on any property, for rent or for sale.
| Plan | 1 listing | Each, when you buy 3 |
|---|---|---|
| 2-month Listing | $99.99 | $74.99 ($224.97 for 3) |
| 3-month Listing | $119.99 | $89.99 ($269.97 for 3) |
| 6-month Listing | $149.99 | $112.49 ($337.47 for 3) |
| MAX Exposure Listing | $239.99 | $179.99 ($539.97 for 3) |
Plus 13% HST on Ontario listings. Codes like FREEUPGRADE don't apply to bundles. Already listed with us? Buy credits in My Account.
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Lease it yourself on MLS®
List your rental on MLS® from $69.99 a month. Use FREEUPGRADE at checkout to get the next plan up free.