Essex · Essex Centre to Colchester
Tenant placement in Essex, Harrow, McGregor and Colchester
We price, list, show and screen, then prepare the Ontario standard lease or a customized lease for your Essex rental. You approve the tenant. One flat fee of one month's rent plus HST, paid only when they sign.
Free · No obligation · $0 until your tenant signs · 10-Month replacement guarantee
In short
Zola places screened, long-term tenants in Essex Centre, Harrow, McGregor and Colchester houses and additional units. Short-term rentals need a $700, three-year Town licence, $2 million in insurance and a local contact who can respond within an hour. You pay one month's rent plus HST when your tenant signs.
Essex rules to know before you rent
We don't have Essex reviews to show yet, so here are the Town's own rules, and where to check them.
- Short-term rentals need a licenceThe Town's short-term rental licensing by-law, passed May 16, 2022, requires a licence: $700 for three years, with $2 million in insurance and a local contact who can respond within an hour. There's no principal residence rule.Source: Town of Essex, By-law 2025, short-term rental unit licensing, checked October 18, 2026
- Demerit points and penaltiesLicence holders collect demerit points for violations: seven points can lead to a suspension and 15 to revocation. Operating without a licence carries a $1,500 penalty.Source: Town of Essex, By-law 2025, short-term rental unit licensing, checked October 18, 2026
- A second unit needs a building permitA second unit in a house needs a building permit, drawings and inspections, a fire separation between the units and interconnected smoke alarms in each one.Source: Government of Ontario, add a second unit in your house, checked October 18, 2026
These are summaries to help you plan, not legal advice. Check with the Town of Essex for your own property.
What we place in Essex
Every Essex placement uses the same process and the same flat fee.
- Tenant placementLandlords with a condo, house, basement unit, multiplex or apartment building to rent.
- CondosCondo owners renting out a unit, including owners who live abroad.
- Basement apartmentsHomeowners renting a basement or second unit, often for the first time.
- Houses and townhomesOwners renting a detached, semi-detached house or townhouse.
- Multiplexes and apartment buildingsOwners of duplexes, triplexes, fourplexes and apartment buildings of any size.
- Tenant screeningLandlords who want an applicant's income, identity and history checked properly.
Renting in Essex: what we see
The Town of Essex joins four communities in the middle of Essex County, from Essex Centre's main street to Harrow's farms and wineries and Colchester on Lake Erie.
Essex Centre
The town's main hub, with older houses and apartments near Talbot Street and newer subdivisions, rented to families and commuters to Windsor.
Harrow and Colchester
Houses in Harrow and lakeside homes near Colchester Harbour, in the county's wine country, rented to families and retirees.
McGregor and the countryside
Houses in McGregor and farmhouses across the former townships, where the lease should cover water, heating fuel and snow clearing.
Essex rental rules at a glance
| Short-term rentals | A three-year licence ($700), $2 million in insurance and a local contact within an hour; no principal residence rule. Source: short-term rentals |
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Checked October 18, 2026. Ontario-wide rules apply everywhere; we list only the local ones we found. Compare Essex with other Ontario cities
Where we work in Essex
We work across the Town of Essex by appointment and meet you and your applicants at the property.
- Essex Centre
- Harrow
- McGregor
- Colchester
- Colchester Harbour
How it works in Essex
A free strategy call on day 1, with a rental market analysis for your area; professional photos and a listing live within 12 to 24 hours; then showings, screening and a signed lease, usually about three weeks in all. You pay one month's rent plus HST when your tenant signs.
Essex questions
Do I need a licence for a short-term rental in Essex?
Yes: $700 for three years, with $2 million in insurance and a local contact who can respond within an hour. Seven demerit points can suspend a licence, and 15 can revoke it.
Is my Harrow house under rent control?
If it was first lived in after November 15, 2018, it's exempt from the yearly guideline. Otherwise increases follow it: 1.9% for 2027.
How fast do Essex homes rent?
Our average across all our placements is 14 days from listing to a signed lease. We'll give you a realistic estimate for your home on the strategy call.
Free · No obligation · $0 until your tenant signs · 10-Month replacement guarantee
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