What a leasing agent does
A leasing agent markets available space, shows it to prospective tenants, screens applications and prepares leases. In residential settings that might mean filling suites in a purpose-built rental building or a new condominium tower. In commercial settings it means working with retailers, offices or industrial occupiers on longer, negotiated leases. Most leasing agents spend the day on the phone, in showings and in the follow-up that turns a viewing into a signed lease.
Whether the person must be registered with RECO depends on the arrangement. Agents who lease property for clients through a brokerage are registrants, while TRESA sets out exemptions for some situations, such as full-time salaried employees acting for their own employer. Confirm the requirement for your role with RECO or your lawyer. Finch then screens candidates for your setting, including their tenant selection habits, follow-up discipline and knowledge of residential or commercial lease terms.
Typical responsibilities
- Advertise vacancies and respond promptly to enquiries from prospective tenants
- Conduct showings and tours of suites, units or commercial space
- Collect applications and, with consent, verify income, references and credit
- Prepare residential leases on Ontario's standard form, or commercial offers to lease
- Coordinate move-ins, key handovers and deposits with property management
- Report on vacancies, traffic and leasing activity to the landlord
Qualifications and credentials
- RECO registration where the role involves leasing for clients through a brokerage
- Knowledge of the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006 and Ontario's standard form of lease for residential roles
- Understanding of the Ontario Human Rights Code as it applies to choosing tenants
- Customer service or sales experience with strong follow-up habits
- Experience with property management or CRM software is often an asset
Who hires a leasing agent
- Owners and managers of purpose-built rental apartment buildings
- Condominium developers leasing completed units for investors
- Residential and commercial brokerages with leasing teams
- Shopping centre and office landlords
- Student and seniors' housing operators
Where we recruit leasing agent candidates
We fill leasing agent roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Whether their experience is residential, commercial or both, and how busy their portfolios were
- Their tenant selection process and how they keep it fair and consistent
- RECO registration status where your arrangement requires it
- Responsiveness, judged partly by how they handle scheduling with us
- Availability for evening and weekend showings
Interview questions to ask
- An applicant volunteers personal details you are not allowed to consider when choosing a tenant. How do you handle the application?
- How do you follow up with someone who toured a suite but has not applied?
- Walk me through how you verify an applicant's income and references.