Landlord Self help Cntre

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Frequently Asked Questions

Your first stop for self-help is a review of our FAQs. Take a look at the ever increasing collection of questions asked by Ontario’s small-scale landlords as well as the actual answers provided by Landlord’s Self-Help Centre.

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A young woman who applied to rent one of my units has four children. I declined her application and she is now alleging discrimination. Is this considered discriminatory?

If the landlord’s decision was based solely on the fact that the applicant has four children, it would be considered discrimination based on family status under the Ontario Human Rights Code.

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I advertised a room for rent online and received many applications from younger people, but I prefer to rent to a more mature person. One person said that I was discriminating because he was young. Did I do something wrong?

Refusing to rent to someone because of their age is discrimination under the Ontario Human Rights Code, and the Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to follow that law. Landlords are allowed to choose tenants based on legitimate factors such as credit and references, NOT AGE.

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I rent out the second floor of my house and usually only rent to single people because families tend to cause more disturbances and more wear and tear to the property. A family recently applied to rent the unit and I refused their application for that reason. They say this is discrimination. Did I do something wrong?

Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, it is illegal to refuse to rent to a person or treat them unfairly because of their family or marital status.
Refusing to rent to a family simply because they have children is not allowed under law. The Code prohibits discrimination based on family status, and the Residential Tenancies Act requires landlords to comply with the Code. Denying the application on the basis that you “only rent to single” can expose you to serious legal consequences.

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I rented to a single lady and now she’s got two kids. This is my house and I prefer adults.

Renting out a self-contained unit in your own home is treated no differently than renting out an apartment in a large building, a condominium or even a whole house. The tenant is protected by both the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), and the Ontario Human Rights Code (OHRC). That being said, it is a breach of the OHRC to rent a unit and demand that there be “no children” allowed.

You can read more about the protected grounds and areas under the Ontario Human Rights Code at the following website: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/ontario-human-rights-code