Locations · Ontario
A university city on the Thames, with a well-established rental licensing regime.
London is Southwestern Ontario's largest city and a regional centre for healthcare, education and employment. Western University and Fanshawe College anchor rental demand in neighbourhoods such as Old North, Broughdale and the areas around the downtown core, while family neighbourhoods across the city support steady long-term tenancies.
London was one of the earlier Ontario municipalities to license smaller residential rental properties. For owners and purchasers, that means a rental property's licence status is a practical question to answer before a lease is signed or a purchase is completed.
Neighbourhoods
Five areas, from Downtown & SoHo to Byron, Hyde Park & Masonville: the homes in each and how people get around. They describe the area, not offices or properties we hold.
Photograph is illustrative and may not show this neighbourhood.
The core around Dundas Place and the Covent Garden Market has added apartment and condominium towers, while SoHo, to the south-east, holds older houses near the Thames.
Properties in LondonLocal property
01
Many older homes near the university and downtown have been converted to multiple units. Their legality, licensing and fire-code compliance should be verified, not assumed from current use.
02
Apartment buildings and newer condominium towers serve professionals and downsizers, particularly downtown and along major corridors.
03
Suburban neighbourhoods in the north, south and east of the city offer detached homes and townhouses with steady long-term rental demand.
Communities
For owners and buyers
Applicable rules
The City of London licenses residential rental units in smaller rental buildings. Owners apply to the City and properties are subject to inspection for compliance with property standards, fire and building requirements.
London has adopted a by-law intended to limit renovation-related evictions, adding municipal requirements where a landlord seeks possession of a unit for renovation. Review current City requirements before planning such work.
Rent, deposits, entry, notices and termination are governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.
This information is general and educational. It is not legal, tax, accounting or investment advice, and rules change. Confirm requirements with the relevant authority or a qualified professional before acting.
Questions
Many do. The City's Residential Rental Unit Licence applies to rental units in smaller buildings. Check the City's current criteria for your property, and keep the licence current if you lease the unit.
We consider residential rentals of many kinds. Student tenancies are governed by the same Residential Tenancies Act protections as any other residential tenancy, and we manage them on that basis.
Yes, we review tenanted properties. Existing tenancies continue after a sale, and we take them into account in our assessment.
Nearby markets
Century homes, a working harbour, and a rental market shaped by two major institutions.
Limestone heritage, a university district, and steady demand from institutions.
Twelve municipalities, heritage districts and wine country, each with its own rules.
London