Spousal addition to existing lease - is extensive due diligence normal practice?
I’ve been renting my current place in Toronto for over a year now (moved in Feb'25). Before moving in, I went through the standard screening process - employment letter, pay stubs, credit score, bank statements, references, etc. I also complied with submitting post-dated cheques for the first year since I was a first-time renter and it's something that made my landlord feel more comfortable.
I’ve also been a reliable tenant throughout (rent always paid on time, no issues with the unit, good relationship with landlord, I hold onto their mail if it gets delivered here, etc.).
My husband is now moving to Canada from Europe, and we’re in the process of getting him added to the lease. We completely understand that some level of vetting is required, and we’ve cooperated fully by providing:
- rental application form
- employment details
- pay stubs
- credit report
- references
However, the landlord’s agent independently contacted my husband’s employer without:
- giving us a heads up beforehand, or
- telling us who exactly he contacted so we could ensure a response
The employer is also in a non-English-speaking European country, which made the whole thing feel even stranger to us.
Is this considered standard practice in Toronto/Ontario when adding a spouse to an existing lease? The overall process has started to feel far more invasive than we anticipated, especially given that I’m already an existing tenant in good standing. Any and all input is appreciated. Thank you.