Mid Term Rentals in Markham: Furnished Stays of 30 Days or More, Done Legally

Neeraj Moolchandani is a top real estate agent in Markham, Ontario. Published November 12, 2026 · By Neeraj Moolchandani, REALTOR®, Cofounder of the Kaizen Real Estate Team, eXp Realty, Brokerage

Markham landlords keep asking whether there is a legal middle ground between a long term lease and a nightly rental. There is, but it carries rules many owners miss. Our Kaizen Real Estate Team is one of the teams Markham investors trust to explain the full picture before they buy or furnish a unit, so here is what we tell clients.

What Markham Allows and What It Does Not

In 2018, Markham staff recommended defining short term accommodation as a place of temporary residence offered for periods of less than 30 consecutive days, and recommended against licensing it. Markham's zoning does not permit that use. Separately, Markham charges a Municipal Accommodation Tax of 4% on stays of 29 consecutive nights or fewer at hotels and similar accommodation.

A furnished stay of 30 days or more falls outside that short term definition. That is why mid term rentals are getting attention. But being outside the short term rules does not put you outside Ontario's tenancy law.

Source: City of Markham staff report on short term accommodation, May 22, 2018; Markham Municipal Accommodation Tax page

The Tenancy Trap Most Owners Miss

Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act exempts some living accommodation, including accommodation for the travelling or vacationing public or occupied for a seasonal or temporary period. As LegalLine explains, stays of a month or longer may be treated as long term, and long term renters are generally covered by the Act. The Landlord and Tenant Board decides case by case.

In practice, plan as if the Act applies. That means using Ontario's Standard Lease where required, following the rules on deposits and rent increases, and understanding that a fixed end date does not by itself end the tenancy. If the guest does not leave, you may need the Board's process to get the unit back. Our first time landlord guide covers the core rules.

Who Rents Furnished Homes for a Month or More

• Families displaced by insurance claims: after a fire or flood, many home insurance policies pay additional living expenses. As Square One describes, that can include a long term furnished rental while the home is repaired.
• Health care workers on contract: clinicians and staff on temporary assignments at the hospital in Cornell, part of Oak Valley Health.
• Corporate relocations: employees moving to Markham's many technology and head office employers who need a place while they search.
• Families between homes: buyers whose closing dates do not line up, or who are renovating.

Each group usually books through a company, an insurer or a relocation firm, so ask who the tenant legally is and who signs the lease.

Choosing the Right Property

• Condo rules first: many declarations set minimum lease terms or restrict furnished rentals. Read them before you buy.
• Legal second units: a registered basement suite can work well; see our guide to legal basement apartments.
• Location: quick access to Highway 404 or 407, the hospital, and GO or Viva transit.
• Layout: two bedrooms, in suite laundry and parking suit families and professionals.

Our post on homes with rental suite potential shows what to look for.

Running the Numbers Honestly

Furnished stays can bring a higher monthly rent than a standard lease, but costs are higher too: furniture, utilities and internet you include, cleaning between stays, more wear, more vacancy between bookings, and insurance for a furnished rental. Compare a full year of each approach, including empty weeks, before deciding.

Protect Yourself Before the First Guest

1. Confirm with a paralegal or lawyer how the Residential Tenancies Act applies to your plan.
2. Tell your insurer exactly how the unit will be used and get the right policy.
3. Check your mortgage terms and, for condos, the declaration and rules.
4. Screen every tenant consistently, and confirm who is legally responsible for rent.
5. Use written agreements and keep records of every payment and notice.

Questions Markham Clients Ask

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