Guide for landlords
Screening tenants in Ontario: a landlord's guide to doing it right
Choosing the right tenant is the most important decision a landlord makes. Ontario's Human Rights Code sets out what you can use to decide, and what you can't.
What you can ask for
- Rental history and references from past landlords.
- Credit references and a credit check, with the applicant's consent.
- Income information, but only together with rental history, credit references and a credit check, and it must be weighed with everything else.
- A guarantor (co-signer), when asked in a fair way.
What you can't do
- Refuse or treat someone differently because of a protected ground, including race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, family status (for example, having children), disability, or receiving public assistance.
- Use a rule like "no kids" or "no ODSP". Refusing housing because someone has children is discrimination.
- Apply a screening rule to some applicants and not others.
A fair, simple process
- Write the listing clearly: rent, what's included, pets and smoking rules, move-in date.
- Use the same questions and checks for every applicant.
- Get written consent before running a credit check.
- Keep notes on why you chose a tenant.
- Use Ontario's standard lease, and only collect the deposits that are allowed.
How twnhouse helps
When renters book a tour on twnhouse, they answer the same short set of questions, so every applicant gets the same treatment. Long-term applications are handled through TrueTenant. List your place free.