Discriminatory Evictions & Human Rights in Manitoba

Discriminatory evictions happen when a renter is forced to leave, or treated differently, because of a protected ground such as race, disability, family status, gender identity, or religion. If you are a tenant in Manitoba, you have specific human rights protections and access to complaint systems that can prevent or challenge unfair evictions. This guide explains what discriminatory eviction looks like, the difference between landlord eviction for legitimate reasons and unlawful discrimination, the roles of the Residential Tenancies Branch and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, and the practical steps tenants can take — from documenting incidents to filing official forms and seeking legal or community support. It is written for renters, with clear language and examples to help you act promptly.

What counts as discriminatory eviction?

Discriminatory eviction means a tenant is singled out for eviction or treated differently because of a protected characteristic, such as race, ancestry, place of origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, family status or disability. If a landlord bases an eviction on one of these grounds, that eviction may be unlawful under Manitoba's protections and you can raise a complaint with the Residential Tenancies Branch^[1] and, where applicable, the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

How discrimination differs from lawful eviction

Landlords can sometimes end tenancies for legitimate reasons such as unpaid rent, serious lease breaches, or when a landlord requires the unit for an approved reason. Discriminatory evictions differ because the motivating reason is a protected ground rather than tenant conduct or contractual breach. The Residential Tenancies Act sets out lawful grounds and procedures for eviction in Manitoba^[2].

• A landlord issues an eviction citing your membership in a protected group rather than a lease breach.
• A notice refers to a tenant characteristic instead of specific, documented lease or payment problems.
• You have evidence showing other tenants were treated differently for the same behaviour.

What to do right away

If you think an eviction is discriminatory, act quickly. It helps to know your rights and common responses; see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Manitoba and review typical landlord-tenant problems in Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them. The steps below explain practical actions you can take immediately.

• Gather all written communications, dated messages, photos and witness details.
• Keep copies of the lease, any notices and records of payments or repairs.
• Contact relevant supports and advice services and note the date and person you spoke with.
• Consider contacting the Manitoba Human Rights Commission or Legal Aid for human rights and legal advice.

Formal options: tenancy and human rights complaints

You can pursue one or both formal routes: apply to the Residential Tenancies Branch to dispute an eviction, and if the eviction appears motivated by a protected ground, file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission. Review official RTB forms and guides before filing and follow the procedural instructions carefully^[3].

• File an application with the Residential Tenancies Branch to dispute a termination or eviction.
• File a human rights complaint if the primary reason for eviction relates to a protected ground.
• If a hearing is scheduled, prepare a clear timeline, submit evidence and arrange witnesses where possible.

Find temporary housing and listings

If you need to find alternate housing quickly, consider trusted rental platforms to search available units. Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme to compare listings and map-based options while you prepare other steps.

FAQ

Can a landlord evict me because of my family status or disability?

No. Eviction solely for a protected ground like family status or disability is discriminatory; you can challenge it through the Residential Tenancies Branch and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

What evidence will help my case?

Keep dated messages, photos, witness names, rental agreement copies and any notice the landlord gave — this documentation is key.

How long do I have to act?

Respond promptly to notices and meet RTB filing deadlines; missing a deadline can limit your options.

How-To

1. Gather evidence: collect messages, photos, dates and witness names.
2. Keep and photocopy any notice or form you received and save a dated log of events.
3. Contact the Residential Tenancies Branch for procedural guidance^[1].
4. File the appropriate RTB application or dispute form and follow filing instructions on the official forms page^[3].
5. If discrimination is suspected, contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and consider a concurrent human rights complaint.
6. Prepare for any hearing by organizing evidence, preparing a timeline and arranging witnesses.

Key Takeaways

• Discriminatory evictions based on protected grounds are unlawful in Manitoba.
• Document every interaction and preserve notices and messages.
• Use both the Residential Tenancies Branch and the Human Rights Commission when appropriate to protect your rights.

Help and Support / Resources

• Contact the Residential Tenancies Branch for tenancy disputes: Residential Tenancies Branch^[1]
• Contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission: Manitoba Human Rights Commission
• Contact Legal Aid Manitoba for free legal advice: Legal Aid Manitoba

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1. [1] Residential Tenancies Branch, Government of Manitoba
2. [2] Residential Tenancies Act (C.C.S.M. c. R117)
3. [3] Residential Tenancies Branch Forms and Guides