Dealing with Discrimination & Accessibility Issues: Tenant Help in Northwest Territories

If you’re renting a home in Northwest Territories and facing discrimination or accessibility issues, support and actionable steps are available to help you protect your rights. Under territorial and Canadian law, all tenants are entitled to equal treatment in housing—regardless of disability, race, family status, or religion. This guide will walk you through what counts as discrimination in rentals, how to address accessibility barriers, and the procedures for making a complaint in Northwest Territories.

Understanding Discrimination and Accessibility in Housing

Discrimination in rental housing means being treated unfairly or denied equal opportunity based on a protected characteristic such as disability, race, gender, age, or family status. Accessibility issues involve a landlord refusing to accommodate needs related to a physical or mental disability, such as not permitting a service animal or refusing a reasonable accessibility modification.

• Examples of discrimination: Denying a rental to someone with children, increasing rent based on ethnicity, refusing a request to install grab bars for a physical disability, or treating applicants differently based on religion.
• Protected grounds: Under the Northwest Territories Human Rights Act, landlords cannot discriminate in renting, terms and conditions, or evict based on these characteristics¹.

Accessibility in rentals refers to making reasonable changes so tenants with disabilities can use their homes safely and comfortably. This is not only a right—it’s supported by law in the Northwest Territories.

Your Rights Under Northwest Territories Law

Both the Human Rights Act and the Residential Tenancies Act protect tenants from discrimination and require landlords to accommodate disabilities up to the point of undue hardship².

• You have the right to apply for, occupy, and enjoy rental housing without being discriminated against.
• Landlords must consider requests for accessibility modifications.
• Evictions, rent increases, or refusals to renew leases cannot be based on a protected characteristic.
• If you have questions about your broader rights as a tenant, visit Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Northwest Territories.

Common Discrimination & Accessibility Scenarios

• Denying a rental application because you use a wheelchair.
• Not allowing a guide dog in a "no pets" unit (service animals must be accommodated).
• Refusing to allow the installation of accessibility ramps or door openers at your own expense.
• Imposing different rules or rent increases only on tenants of a specific background.

If you’re facing similar situations, you’re not alone—these are among the Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them in rental housing.

Step-by-Step: Addressing Discrimination and Accessibility Problems

Tenants should follow these steps if they believe they’re experiencing discrimination or are being denied reasonable accessibility accommodations:

1. Document the Issue: Write down what happened, when, and who was involved. Keep copies of texts, emails, and any rental application materials. This documentation may be essential if you file a complaint.
2. Communicate in Writing: Politely inform your landlord about your concern, request specific accommodations, and ask for their response in writing. This gives the landlord an opportunity to address the issue directly.
3. Seek Advice: If the problem isn’t resolved, reach out to a local tenant support service or the Northwest Territories Tenancy Dispute Office.
4. File a Human Rights Complaint: If your landlord refuses to accommodate disability needs or discriminates, you can file a complaint through the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission using the official Complaint Form.
5. Follow-Up or Seek Further Remedies: If you’re facing eviction or other action you believe is discriminatory, you may also make an application to the Tenancy Dispute Office under the Residential Tenancies Act.

Key Forms and Where to Find Them

• Human Rights Complaint Form (Form 1): Use this form to file a formal complaint about discrimination or failure to accommodate under the Human Rights Act. Find instructions and the form at the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission website.
  Example: If your landlord refuses to allow your service animal or won’t permit an accessibility ramp, submit this form with your details and supporting documentation.
• Application for Tenancy Dispute Resolution: (no designated number)—If the discrimination involves a tenancy issue (like eviction), you may file an application to the Tenancy Dispute Office. Forms and details are on their official site.

Who Oversees Tenancy Matters?

In the Northwest Territories, tenancy issues and disputes (including those involving accessibility or discrimination within a rental contract) are overseen by the Tenancy Dispute Office. This office can assist tenants and landlords with rental disputes under the Residential Tenancies Act.²

What Happens After Complaints Are Filed?

After submitting a human rights complaint, you may be interviewed by a Commission officer. Mediation may be offered, or an investigation started, depending on the severity and circumstances. For disputes involving rental rights, your matter may be scheduled for a hearing with the Tenancy Dispute Office. If your complaint is validated, remedies may include a requirement for the landlord to make accommodations, compensation, or reversal of discriminatory actions.

For more guidance on your responsibilities and your landlord’s obligations when it comes to accessibility or health and safety, check out Health and Safety Issues Every Tenant Should Know When Renting.

FAQ: Discrimination & Accessibility in NWT Rentals

1. What rights do tenants with disabilities have in the Northwest Territories?
   Tenants with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodation. This means landlords must make changes or allow modifications to make the unit accessible unless doing so would cause serious hardship or unreasonable expense ("undue hardship").
2. What if my landlord refuses an accessibility request?
   You should document the refusal in writing and file a complaint with the Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission or seek a remedy through the Tenancy Dispute Office.
3. Can a landlord evict me for filing a discrimination complaint?
   No, the law protects you from retaliation for asserting your rights or filing a human rights complaint. Retaliatory eviction is prohibited.
4. How long does the discrimination complaint process take?
   The process varies; complaints are reviewed, and in some cases, may proceed to mediation or a hearing. The Commission will keep you informed, but it may take weeks or months.
5. Can I ask for a service animal in a no-pets rental?
   Yes. Landlords must accommodate tenants with disabilities needing service animals, regardless of pet policies.

How To: Filing a Discrimination or Accessibility Complaint

1. How do I file a discrimination complaint with the Human Rights Commission?
   Download and complete the Complaint Form from the Commission’s website. Attach supporting documents, then email, mail, or deliver your form to the Commission office. They will contact you with next steps.
2. How do I request an accessibility change in my rental?
   Write a clear letter or email outlining your request and why you need the change. Provide documentation (e.g., a doctor’s note if needed). Give your landlord time to respond in writing.
3. How do I get support if my landlord doesn’t respond?
   Contact a tenant advocacy service or the Tenancy Dispute Office for advice. You may be able to make an application for dispute resolution if needed.

Key Takeaways

• No tenant in Northwest Territories should face discrimination or lose housing access because of who they are or what they need for accessibility.
• Always document your issue and attempt to resolve it with your landlord first.
• Resources like the Human Rights Commission and Tenancy Dispute Office offer protection and help when issues aren’t resolved directly.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Northwest Territories Human Rights Commission: Information, forms, and complaint filing assistance
• Tenancy Dispute Office: Rental dispute applications, guidance for both tenants and landlords
• Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Northwest Territories: More details on housing rights and responsibilities
• Explore Houseme for nationwide rental listings if you are looking for accessible homes or considering moving

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1. Northwest Territories Human Rights Act, S.N.W.T. 2002, c. 18. Available at NWT Human Rights Act (official pdf).
2. Residential Tenancies Act, S.N.W.T. 2008, c. 10. Accessible at Residential Tenancies Act (full text).

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