New Tenants’ Guide to Discrimination and Accessibility in Nunavut

Moving into a new rental home in Nunavut? Understanding your rights when it comes to discrimination and accessibility is critical. Nunavut law protects tenants from unfair treatment based on personal characteristics and supports accessible rental housing for everyone. This article explains the practical steps new tenants should know, key protections, and helpful resources to ensure you start your tenancy with confidence.

Understanding Discrimination in Nunavut Rentals

Discrimination in housing means treating someone unfairly or refusing to rent to them because of characteristics like race, age, gender identity, family status, disability, or religion. In Nunavut, it’s illegal for landlords to discriminate under the Nunavut Human Rights Act^[1]. Both prospective and current tenants are protected against:

• Being refused a rental because of your ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation
• Harassment from a landlord or neighbours due to a protected characteristic
• Rules that unfairly target specific groups or disabilities

If you believe you are facing housing discrimination, you have several options to address the situation, including filing a complaint with the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal.

What are Your Landlord's Obligations?

Landlords in Nunavut must treat all tenants equally and provide reasonable accommodation for tenants with disabilities. This includes making changes to rules, policies, or even facilities to make rental units accessible, unless it causes undue hardship.

If you’re unsure about your landlord’s duties, review the Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained for a detailed look at mutual responsibilities under Nunavut law.

Accessibility: Making Your Nunavut Home Work for You

Accessible housing isn’t just about wheelchair ramps—tenants with all sorts of disabilities are entitled to reasonable adaptations. These may include:

• Permission for service animals (even in no-pet units if required by disability)
• Accessible entryways or modified fixtures
• Changes in communication methods (like large print leases)

If you need adaptations, tell your landlord what you require and provide relevant documentation if requested. Landlords can only decline if the change would create significant difficulty or expense.

Filing a Complaint: Forms and Steps for Tenants

If you feel your rights have been violated, you can take formal action. Here are the key steps and resources:

• Step 1: Keep notes and any evidence (such as messages or letters) of discrimination or failure to accommodate.
• Step 2: Attempt to resolve the matter directly with your landlord—sometimes, misunderstandings can be cleared up through discussion.
• Step 3: If unresolved, file a complaint with the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal. You need to fill out the Human Rights Complaint Form (available here), providing details of what happened and why you believe it was discriminatory. The Tribunal can investigate and help resolve the issue.

For accessibility disputes that relate to your lease or landlord’s responsibilities, you can also contact the Nunavut Residential Tenancies Office for guidance on how to proceed under the Residential Tenancies Act (Nunavut)^[2].

Practical Tips for New Tenants

• Ask about accessibility before signing a lease if you have specific needs
• Know your rights to equal treatment and reasonable accommodation
• Read your lease carefully, and document any accessibility agreements
• If you face ongoing issues, learn about Common Issues Tenants Face and How to Resolve Them

For other aspects of your new rental, see What Tenants Need to Know After Signing the Rental Agreement.

If you’re still searching for a fully accessible rental, Browse apartments for rent in Canada to discover listings that suit your requirements.

For more on your rights living in this territory, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nunavut.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can my landlord refuse to rent to me because of my disability?
   No. Under Nunavut law, landlords cannot deny housing to tenants due to disability or other protected grounds.
2. What if my rental is not wheelchair accessible?
   You may ask your landlord for reasonable modifications. If refused without good reason, you can file a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal.
3. How do I make a complaint about discrimination?
   Submit a Human Rights Complaint Form to the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal, including all the details and any evidence you have.
4. Are service animals allowed in no-pet rentals?
   Yes. Landlords must permit service animals for tenants with disabilities, even if pets are otherwise not allowed.
5. Where can I go if my landlord ignores my accessibility request?
   Contact the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal for discrimination concerns, or the Residential Tenancies Office for rental contract issues.

How-To: Addressing Discrimination or Accessibility Barriers

1. How do I request an accommodation for my disability?
   Inform your landlord in writing, explain your needs, and if possible, include documentation from a healthcare provider.
2. How do I file a housing discrimination complaint?
   Complete the Human Rights Complaint Form via the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal website and submit it as soon as possible after the incident.
3. How do I keep records of discrimination?
   Save all communication and document incidents with as much detail as possible for your file.
4. How can I make sure my apartment meets my accessibility needs before moving in?
   Ask the landlord for a viewing, specify your needs, and get any agreed modifications in writing before you sign the lease.

Key Takeaways

• Nunavut law protects tenants against discrimination and requires landlords to accommodate accessibility needs.
• Keep records and communicate clearly with your landlord about any concerns.
• If problems arise, formal complaint and support processes are available to help you resolve the issue.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal – File a complaint or learn more about your rights
• Nunavut Residential Tenancies Office – Tenancy advice and rental dispute assistance
• Nunavut Housing Corporation – Programs and resources for renters
• Human Rights Complaint Form

1. Nunavut Human Rights Act
2. Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act