Winterizing a Canadian Rental — The 12-Item Checklist
A frozen-pipe claim averages $18,000 in Canada and almost every claim is preventable. Run through this checklist by Oct 31 every year and you eliminate ~95% of winter-related insurance claims.
Plumbing (the big one)
Shut off outdoor faucet valves from inside, then bleed the outdoor side
Insulate any exposed pipe in unheated crawl spaces or garages
Set the thermostat minimum to 16°C even when vacant
Open vanity cabinets on exterior walls during cold snaps
Heating
Replace furnace filter Sept and Jan
Bleed every radiator (if hot-water heat) — top up the boiler to 12 psi
Confirm CO + smoke alarms have fresh batteries
Building envelope
Clean gutters AFTER leaves drop (ice dams)
Caulk any exterior cracks where pipes / wires enter
Inspect roof for missing shingles before snow
Tenant-facing
Send a winter prep email Oct 15 — "keep cabinet doors open on exterior walls during cold snaps; here's the emergency plumber number"
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Central Rentals handles T776 exports, provincial notices, Stripe rent collection, and tenant screening in one place. Free for 30 days.
Start free trialCommon questions
QWhat's the deadline to file rental income to the CRA?
Rental income is reported on the T776 form filed with your personal T1 return. The deadline is April 30 of the year after you earned the income (June 15 if you're self-employed, but any balance owing is still due April 30).
QDo I need to charge GST/HST on rent?
Long-term residential rent is GST/HST-exempt. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are taxable once you exceed the $30,000 small-supplier threshold across all your business activities.
QCan I deduct mortgage payments?
You can deduct the interest portion (and most carrying costs) of your mortgage on a rental property, but NOT the principal repayment. Central Rentals splits this automatically inside your T776 export.