Rent: The Teacher's Resource

Objective

Students will explore rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants.

Curriculum Links

• LIFE 15 (h) Role play scenarios that demonstrate how to successfully resolve potential issues and challenges (e.g., loud neighbours, broken appliances, nonresponsive landlord) related to seeking, obtaining, maintaining and ending a variety of living arrangements.

Procedure

1. Read “Paying the Rent” as a group.
KEY QUESTIONS
• Is it fair to landlords that they can only charge one month’s rent at a time?
• Why do you think landlords can charge more for additional occupants?

2. Assign “Rent Case Studies.”

3. Continue reading with “Tenant and Landlord Rights.”
KEY QUESTIONS
• What do you think “reasonable privacy” means?
• Why do you think political candidates and their representatives cannot be barred from entering an apartment building during an election campaign?
• Are the restrictions on landlords’ access to their property reasonable? Why or why not?

4. Pair students to create role-play scenarios for “Role Play! Can the Landlord Do It?” Role plays can be performed in front of the class to help students understand various laws that apply, and ways to come to amicable solutions when disputes arise.