How to apply for Padder Guarantor (with or without Deposit)

Here's what the process looks like from start to finish. You apply for the unit with the landlord or property manager first. If they refer you to Padder after they've reviewed your application, here's what to do.

1. Visit Padder.com
Go to Padder.com and select 'Sign Up' or 'Get Approved'. Select 'Padder Guarantor + Deposit' to begin your application.

2. Create your account and enter lease details
You'll be asked to create a secure Padder account using your Google account or email. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your lease. If you sign in with Google you may see the name "Clerk" on the Google screen; Clerk is the sign-in service Padder uses. Then answer a few quick questions about your rental unit (address and unit number), your lease (monthly base rent before any discounts or free months, and your move-in date), and your household (whether you are the only person signing the lease). Type your address and choose it from the suggestions, then check the confirmed address before you continue. You can change any answer later by clicking the purple text. If you have roommates, you'll be able to add them as co-applicants.

3. Add roommates (if applicable)
For shared units, if you and your roommates are on the same lease:

• You'll be prompted to add each roommate to the application (enter their email).
• Roommates receive an email invite to complete their own application.
• Everyone on the lease applies together as one household.

If a roommate can't find their invite email, or opens the link but doesn't see the application, we have short guides for both:

• Can't find your co-tenant invite email? and

• Invite link opens but your application isn't showing?

4. Tell us about yourself and upload your ID
You'll confirm your legal name, whether the lease is in your name or your employer's, your residency status, your current Canadian address (or a school, workplace or temporary address in Canada if you are not here yet), phone number, date of birth, whether you have been evicted in the last three years, whether you are a full-time student, your employment status, your annual income and your savings. Your SIN is optional; providing it helps us verify your identity and credit. You'll then authorize a credit and background check. Padder uses a soft credit check with Equifax, so your credit score is not affected.

To finish, upload the front of your Canadian provincial ID or passport. Use a clear colour photo with the whole document in frame. That's it for the initial submission.

Once our team reviews your application, we may request additional documents on a case-by-case basis. If anything else is needed, we'll email you and your application page will show exactly what to upload. See What documents do I need to apply?

5. Track your application and receive your decision
After you submit, your application page shows a progress tracker: Application Submitted, Underwriting, Awaiting Leasing Team, Confirmation & Purchase. See How to check the status of your application. Before we finalize your coverage we confirm your lease details with your building's leasing team; the app says this can take anywhere from an hour to a few days.

Once all leaseholder applications and documents are complete, you'll receive a decision by email: approved, declined, or more info required. If you're approved, the email will include a link back to your Padder account where your checkout will be ready.

If Padder Deposit is included with your application, you'll see both products in your checkout summary and sign one combined agreement covering both. You can learn more in our separate Padder Deposit help centre article.

6. Sign your agreement and pay your premium
When you log back into your Padder account after approval, you'll land on your checkout page. You'll see a summary of your application, the agreement to sign, and your payment options. You'll also be offered Padder Credit Builder, which is optional.

Sign the agreement. Click 'Sign Agreement' to open your document. To sign, you'll scroll through the entire agreement, type your full legal name exactly as it appears on your application, check the box acknowledging the Indemnity Agreement, and click 'Agree & Sign'. You can read what the Indemnity Agreement means in our separate policy article. If you have co-applicants, each of you signs your own copy, and everyone on the lease must sign before the application is complete.

Who pays. The premium is paid once per lease by the primary applicant. If you're a co-applicant, you'll sign your own copy of the agreement, but you won't be asked to pay separately.

Pay your premium. Once the primary applicant's agreement is signed, the payment section unlocks. Your total is the one-time premium plus 8% Ontario Retail Sales Tax. There are two options:

• Interac e-Transfer (free, recommended). Click 'Generate reference code' and Padder will give you a unique reference code (looks like PADR-XXXX). Send your transfer to payments@padder.com and paste the reference code in the message field. Auto-deposit is enabled, so no security question or password needed. Then click 'I've sent the transfer' so we know to look out for it. We'll confirm receipt within 48 hours.
• Credit or Debit Card. Pay directly through our secure checkout. A 2.4% processing fee applies. If you pay by card, the amount is placed on hold rather than charged right away; it's only completed once every leaseholder has signed.

7. After you're signed and paid
Once everything is signed and paid, your checkout page becomes your receipt and a copy of your policy is emailed to you and your landlord. If Padder Deposit is included, your confirmation shows both policy numbers.

If anything in your lease changes (rent, dates, occupants), email support@padder.com so we can confirm whether anything needs to be updated.