Human Rights and Rental Housing: Tenant Protections in Manitoba

Understanding your human rights as a tenant in Manitoba is essential—these protections affect your daily life in shared housing, apartments, and other rental situations. The Human Rights Code of Manitoba works alongside rental laws to ensure that landlords cannot discriminate based on race, disability, family status, and more. This guide explains how these important legal protections apply to renters, including those sharing a home with roommates.

How the Human Rights Code Applies to Rental Housing in Manitoba

The Human Rights Code of Manitoba is a provincial law that prohibits discrimination and harassment in rental housing. Landlords, property managers, and even other tenants or roommates must follow these rules when it comes to:

• Advertising and offering apartments, rooms, or shared accommodations
• Screening applicants (including background and credit checks)
• Setting rules for existing tenants or roommates
• Evicting or removing tenants

This means landlords cannot treat you unfairly based on specific characteristics called "protected grounds."

Protected Grounds: What Landlords Cannot Discriminate Against

In Manitoba, protected grounds under the Human Rights Code include:

• Race, nationality, or ethnic origin
• Religion or religious beliefs
• Age
• Sex, gender identity, or gender expression
• Sexual orientation
• Marital or family status (including pregnancy or having children)
• Disability (physical or mental)
• Source of income (such as Employment Insurance, disability benefits, or other legal sources)

If you feel you’ve been denied housing, charged higher rent, or otherwise treated unfairly because of any of these factors, you may have grounds for a human rights complaint.

Discrimination in Shared Housing and Roommate Situations

Human rights laws apply whether you’re renting an entire apartment or just a bedroom with shared common areas. Even in roommate situations, landlords and tenants cannot discriminate against you while renting a room or common space. If a landlord posts a rental ad saying “no children” or “females only,” this could be an example of discrimination under the Code.

If you’re entering a shared housing arrangement, it’s important to know both your rights and your obligations. Manitoba’s Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Manitoba page provides a useful overview of the key legal protections for renters in the province.

Filing a Human Rights Complaint in Manitoba

If you experience discrimination in a housing situation, you have the right to file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission (MHRC).

• Manitoba Human Rights Commission Complaint Form: You can use the Official Complaint Form (PDF or online submission) to start your complaint.
  Example: If your landlord refuses to rent to you because you receive social assistance, you can fill out this form with details and submit supporting evidence.
• Action steps include gathering documentation, describing the event, and submitting your form online or by mail. The Commission will review and investigate your complaint.

The MHRC can order remedies if discrimination is found—these might include allowing you to move in, stopping discriminatory behaviour, or awarding compensation.

How the Human Rights Code Works with the Residential Tenancies Act

In Manitoba, rental laws are mainly set by the Residential Tenancies Act. The Residential Tenancies Branch (RTB) handles most landlord-tenant disputes, including issues like repairs, security deposits, and eviction. However, cases involving discrimination must be filed with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission, as the RTB cannot rule on human rights complaints. For general rental issues, see Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them.

Reasonable Accommodation: What Landlords Must Do

The Human Rights Code also requires landlords to accommodate certain needs, especially for disabilities or religious practices, unless it would cause undue hardship (such as major financial difficulty or safety risks). Examples include:

• Allowing a service animal, even in a "no pets" building
• Installing grab bars or making minor property changes for accessibility
• Permitting some schedule adjustments for religious holidays

If you need an accommodation, tell your landlord, provide relevant documentation, and work together to find a reasonable solution.

Roommates: Human Rights Concerns in Shared Rentals

In shared housing, discrimination rules still apply, but there are some narrow exceptions if the landlord or other tenant shares kitchen/bathroom facilities with you and lives in the same unit. Even so, landlords should always avoid advertising or screening practices that violate protected grounds. For rules on what landlords and tenants must each do, see Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained.

For more flexibility and choices in the rental market, Browse apartments for rent in Canada to find options that fit your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions about Human Rights and Rental Housing in Manitoba

1. What should I do if I’m refused an apartment because of my family status?
   You can file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission if you believe you were denied housing due to a protected ground like family status.
2. Does the Human Rights Code protect me as a roommate or just as a tenant?
   The Code generally protects everyone seeking housing, including roommates, but there are some exceptions for living situations where facilities are shared with the property owner.
3. Can my landlord refuse to rent to me because I’m on income assistance?
   No. Source of income is a protected ground—landlords cannot refuse to rent to you based on income assistance or most other legal income sources.
4. Who handles complaints about discrimination in rental housing?
   The Manitoba Human Rights Commission investigates human rights complaints. The Residential Tenancies Branch handles most other tenancy issues.

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

• The Human Rights Code protects Manitoba tenants and roommates from discrimination in most rental situations.
• Landlords must provide reasonable accommodations for disabilities and other protected needs.
• If you experience discrimination, file a complaint with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission for support and resolution.

Understanding how human rights and rental laws work together helps keep your living situation safe and fair.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Manitoba Human Rights Commission – File a complaint, ask questions, or access information (Phone: 204-945-3007)
• Residential Tenancies Branch – Help with repairs, deposits, and rent issues (Phone: 204-945-2476)
• Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Manitoba – Overview of basic rental rights and obligations
• Local tenant advocacy groups or the Manitoba Human Rights Commission for case-specific help

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1. For Human Rights Code legislation: Human Rights Code of Manitoba
2. On general rental legislation: Residential Tenancies Act (Manitoba)
3. Tenant tribunal for Manitoba: Residential Tenancies Branch
4. Manitoba Human Rights complaints and forms: MHRC Complaint Process

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