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What Does It Cost to Have a REALTOR® Lease Your Property?

By Steve Bulatovic · 5 min read

If you're a landlord considering using a REALTOR® to lease your property, the first question is usually "what does it cost?" Here's a transparent breakdown of how leasing commissions work in Ontario, what they include, and how our free-property-management offer fits in.

The standard leasing commission

In Ontario, the typical commission to lease a residential property is equivalent to one month's rent plus HST. This is usually split between the brokerage that represents the landlord (the listing brokerage) and the brokerage that brings the tenant (the cooperating brokerage), much like a sale. The commission is generally paid out of the first month's rent.

So on a property renting for $2,800 per month, the leasing commission would be $2,800 plus HST, typically deducted from the first month's rent the tenant pays.

What that commission covers

A full-service leasing engagement includes substantially more than just putting a sign on the lawn:

• A comparative market analysis to price the rental correctly
• Professional photography
• MLS listing (which feeds Realtor.ca and hundreds of agent websites)
• Coordinating and conducting showings
• Pre-qualifying and screening applicants — credit, income, references, identity
• Preparing the OREA lease and ensuring RTA compliance
• Handling deposits per Ontario law
• Conducting a documented move-in inspection

The value isn't just convenience — it's risk reduction. A correctly priced, well-marketed property leases faster (less vacancy cost), and a properly screened tenant is far less likely to become a costly problem.

Ongoing property management is separate

Leasing (finding and placing a tenant) and management (handling the tenancy month to month) are two different services with two different fee structures. Property management typically runs 8–10% of monthly rent for a single property, covering rent collection, maintenance coordination, inspections, and statements.

How our offer works

When you list your rental property with us, we earn the standard leasing commission when we place your tenant — that part is conventional. What's different is that we then include property management for the rest of that first lease term at no additional cost. On a 12-month lease, that's potentially $2,800–$4,100 in management fees you don't pay.

Why do we do it? Because a landlord who has a great first experience renews with us, refers others, and often brings additional properties. The free first term is how we earn that long-term relationship. After the first term, if you want us to keep managing, we move to standard management rates; if you'd rather self-manage, we hand off cleanly with no exit fees.

It's a straightforward model with no hidden costs. If you'd like the full details and a no-obligation consultation on your specific property, we're happy to walk through the numbers.