What Can a Landlord Ask For When You Apply to Rent in Ontario?

A landlord in Ontario can ask for credit references, rental history and permission to run a credit check, and can use them to select or refuse an applicant. Income information can be requested, but only alongside at least one of those other items, and it must be weighed together with them. If the landlord asked for everything but obtained only income information, they may consider income alone.

A landlord may require a guarantee for the rent, so guarantor clauses are allowed. A guarantor named on the lease who has no right to live in the unit does not become a tenant under the RTA. How far a guarantor is liable depends on the wording of the guarantee, so have it read before signing. The only security deposit allowed is a rent deposit, capped at one rent period or one month's rent, whichever is less, and it earns annual interest at the rent increase guideline rate. Post-dated cheques cannot be required.

Screening must also respect the Human Rights Code, which protects equal treatment in housing on grounds such as race, family status, disability and receipt of public assistance. Using income, credit and reference checks in the prescribed way does not breach the Code. Lease terms that conflict with the RTA are void.