Getting started
Your unit is inspected before you move in. Here is what happens before you get your keys and what to sort out in your first week.
Before your key appointment
Once your lease is signed, book a key appointment with your property manager. Bring these with you:
- Proof of paymentYour e-transfer receipt for first month's rent and last month's rent, plus any pro-rated rent. Send to [email protected] at least three business days before move-in.
- Proof of tenant insuranceEvery tenant and occupant listed on the certificate. See tenant insurance.
- Proof of utilities in your nameOnly if your lease makes you responsible for utilities. A screenshot or confirmation email showing your name, the address and the account number.
Your first week
- Move-in inspectionWe complete the Move-In Inspection Form given to you at lease signing, note any deficiencies, and fix them within 5 business days of your move-in.
- Set up ePayAutomatic rent payments through your tenant portal. How to set it up.
- Forward your mailCanada Post mail forwarding takes a few minutes online.
- Internet, cable and phoneArrange these yourself if you want them. Numbers are below.
- Moving boxes and garbageBreak boxes down and put them out on your recycling day. See garbage & recycling.
Utility and service providers
Hydro is cheaper at night and on weekends under Ontario's time-of-use pricing. Current rates and times.
Paying rent
Rent is due on the 1st of every month, in full. Pick the way that suits you. ePay is automatic and the most convenient, so we recommend it.
ePay through your tenant portal Recommended
No reminders to set, no missed payments. Set it up once and it runs on its own.
- Log in to your tenant portal.
- Open Payments and choose ePay.
- Enter your bank details and pick one-time or recurring.
- Done. Rent goes out automatically each month.
- Convenient. Everything in one place, next to your lease and ledger.
- Automatic. Never a late payment.
- Secure. Processed through your portal.
- Fast. No logging in to your bank each month.
Pre-authorized payments
Set it and forget it. Rent is withdrawn from your account on the 1st each month. Ask the office to set this up.
E-transfer
Send to [email protected].
Cheque or money order
Payable to Found Spaces Property Management Inc. Write your name, address and tenant account number on it. Mail or drop off at 472 Beach Rd, Hamilton, ON L8H 3K7.
Cash
Bring cash to the office on the day rent is due. The team member who accepts it will give you a receipt. Have your full name and property address noted.
What happens if rent is late
If rent is not paid in full by the 1st, a Notice to End a Tenancy Early for Non-payment of Rent (Form N4) may be served on the 2nd. Under Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act, a landlord can also apply to end a tenancy for persistently late payment, even when each month is eventually paid.
If you can see that a payment will be late, tell us before the 1st. Call 289-270-2922 or email [email protected]. It is far easier to sort out early.
Repairs and maintenance
Something not working? Tell us and we will arrange a contractor, who will call you to book a time.
What to expect
- Regular requests are handled within one week. If yours is not resolved by then, contact the office.
- A contractor will call you to make an appointment. Please be home, or arrange access. If the contractor cannot get in, you will be charged for the visit.
- Emergencies are handled within 24 hours. See emergencies.
Repairs you may be charged for
Normal wear and tear is on us. Damage caused by you, your household or a guest is charged back to you, and prompt payment keeps your rental record in good standing. Examples:
- Broken windows and screens
- Damage to drywall, woodwork and doors
- Unauthorized paint, or removal of wallpaper
- Missing or broken fixtures and door hardware
- Garbage or debris left in the unit at move-out
- Damage done by pets, including flea control
- Toilets plugged by hair brushes, toys and the like
- Lost keys, requested lock changes and unauthorized lock changes
- Missed appointments with contractors
Pest control
Pests are rare in our units because of how they are prepared and maintained. If you see cockroaches, mice, bed bugs or other pests, report it right away through the portal or to [email protected]. Early treatment is quick; a settled infestation is not.
Please follow the preparation instructions the pest control company gives you before treatment. If pest control is needed for fleas from a pet, the cost is yours.
Emergencies
For fire or a medical emergency, call 911 first. For a building emergency, call us any time, day or night.
24-hour emergency line
289-270-2922After hours, our answering service picks up. You can also text 911 to the same number with your property address and unit number, and we will respond within 24 hours.
Call nowWhat counts as an emergency
- No heat, no electricity or no water in your unit
- A water leak or flood
- A plugged toilet when you only have one washroom
- A smoke or carbon monoxide detector that is not working
- A gas smell (leave the unit, then call Enbridge at 1-866-763-5427 and us)
Your home
Keys, parking, pets, heating and the small things that keep your place comfortable.
Tenant insurance (required)
You must carry tenant insurance for the whole of your tenancy, with at least $1,000,000 in liability and every tenant and occupant listed on the certificate. It covers your belongings against fire, water and theft, your living expenses if you have to move out after a disaster, and damage to the unit or building caused by negligence. Without it, the owner or other tenants may recover those costs from you directly.
Our preferred partner rates with Apollo start at about $16 a month.
Keys and locks
Every unit has a deadbolt, and the locks are changed before you move in. You are not permitted to change or add locks without approval.
If you lose your keys or need a lock change, contact the maintenance department. Lock changes and replacement keys are charged to you.
Parking
Parking is as set out in your lease. If you have a question about your spot or the charges, contact the office.
- Abandoned, unlicensed or derelict vehicles are removed at the owner's expense.
- Vehicle maintenance and repairs are not permitted in parking lots or driveways.
- When snow is being cleared, please move your vehicle so the contractor can do the whole lot.
Pets
Well-cared-for pets add to life in a building. Please remember that not everyone will love your pet as you do. If you have one, you are responsible for:
- Its behaviour and its effect on other tenants
- Keeping it under your control at all times in shared areas
- Keeping dog licences and vaccinations current
- The cost of pest control if fleas become a problem
Decorating and changes to the unit
Hanging pictures is fine. Painting or anything more needs written approval first, and no permanent changes can be made. Whatever you change, you are responsible for returning the unit to its original condition when you move out, or you will be charged for the repairs.
Do not attach satellite dishes or antennas to the outside of the building. Equipment installed without approval will be removed.
Heating, hot water and the outdoor tap
Heating
Thermostats are usually set around 22°C. Keep doors and windows closed while the heat is on. Your home is heated by a natural gas furnace or boiler in the basement. It has a clean filter when you move in, and we change the filter periodically.
Hot water tank
The hot water tank is a rental unit and not owned by Found Spaces. Report any problem with it to the maintenance department at 289-270-2922.
Outdoor tap
In winter the outside tap and its pipe can freeze and burst. We shut the outdoor valves off in September and turn them back on in May.
Garbage, recycling and snow
A little care here keeps the property clean and safe for everyone.
Garbage and recycling
Put garbage directly into the bins, bagged. Recycle glass, cans, plastic bottles and paper where your building has a program, and never put garbage in the recycling. A contaminated tote is left behind.
Young children cannot reach the bins safely. Please supervise if taking out the garbage is one of their chores.
Storage
Derelict or unlicensed vehicles, trailers, boats, old bikes, appliances, tires and batteries cannot be stored anywhere on the property.
Townhouses and single-family homes
You are responsible for shovelling and salting the walkway from the sidewalk to your door. Where a contractor clears the parking lot, please move your vehicle so they can finish the job.
Fire safety
Know your home. Make a fire plan with everyone in your household and practise it.
Plan ahead
- Plan your escape route so everyone knows what to do, even in the dark.
- Have a second route in mind and rehearse it.
- Choose a safe meeting place outside.
- Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Report a faulty one straight away. It counts as an emergency.
If there is a fire
- Get out immediately. Fire spreads fast.
- Stay low where there is smoke.
- Feel a door before opening it. If it is hot, use another exit.
- Stop, drop and roll if your clothes catch fire.
- Call 911 from a safe place.
- Never go back in. Nothing, not even a pet, is worth your life.
Changes to your tenancy
Adding someone, moving to another Found Spaces unit, or subletting. Each needs approval first.
Adding someone to your lease
Before anyone else moves in, you need approval from your property manager. They complete an application and must meet our eligibility criteria. If approved, a new lease with the new rent is issued and signed by every member of the household aged 16 and over.
Transferring to another Found Spaces unit
You can ask to transfer to another Found Spaces unit by completing a transfer request. There are eligibility requirements to join the internal transfer list. Call the office at 289-270-2922 for the full list.
A $250 non-refundable administration fee may be due with the application, and your current unit may be inspected. Any maintenance charges from that inspection must be paid in full before a transfer is offered.
Subletting
Subletting needs written approval from Found Spaces. Send your request in writing with details of the proposed subtenant. Approval depends on them meeting our qualification criteria and on the terms of your lease.
When your lease term ends
In Ontario, a lease does not need renewing. When the fixed term ends it continues month to month on the same terms. If you plan to move out, you must give at least 60 days' written notice ending on the last day of a rental period (Form N9). Talk to us first if you are unsure of your dates.
Refer a friend
Know someone looking for a place? Earn $300.
Refer a friend, family member or co-worker to a Found Spaces home. Once they sign a lease and move in, we send you $300. There is no limit to how many people you can refer.
- Send your friend to our available homes.
- Have them put your name on their application as the person who referred them.
- When they move in, we pay you $300.
Paid after the referred tenant signs a lease and moves in. Your name must be on their application. One reward per new tenancy.
Free for Found Spaces tenants
The Money Machine: a free financial course
Rent, bills, groceries, debt. It can feel like you are always trying to keep up. Nobody taught you the rules, so we built a course that does: money basics, getting out of debt, saving and investing.
Contact us
Questions or concerns? Your property manager is happy to help.