When do I have to be out of my home on closing day in Ontario?

The obligation to vacate is set by the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Most Ontario residential APS forms require the seller to deliver vacant possession — meaning the property is fully empty and in the agreed condition — by the time the keys are released to the buyer. Key release is typically tied to the moment closing funds are confirmed and title has transferred, which usually happens in the afternoon.

There is no fixed time written into provincial law; the APS governs. Some agreements specify a time (e.g., noon or 6 p.m.); if no time is stated, "end of business day" on the closing date is the general practice. If you remain in the property after closing without the buyer's consent, you could be in breach and face damages claims or a holdover rent demand.

If you need extra time after closing — for example, you are waiting for your new home to close — you can negotiate a rent-back arrangement with the buyer before the deal firms up. Never assume you can stay after closing without this being written into the agreement.