Facing discrimination as a renter in Nunavut can be stressful and confusing, especially in shared housing or roommate situations. Understanding your rights is essential to creating a fair, respectful, and equal living environment. This guide outlines Nunavut's protections against rental discrimination, steps you can take as a tenant, and helpful resources to support you.
Your Rights as a Tenant: Discrimination Protections in Nunavut
In Nunavut, tenants are protected from discrimination by the Nunavut Human Rights Act. Landlords, including those offering rooms in shared housing, must not treat applicants or tenants unfairly based on:
- Race, colour, or ethnic origin
- Religion or creed
- Sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation
- Age or marital status
- Disability or receipt of public assistance
- Family status
These rules apply to all rental situations, including apartments, houses, and shared accommodations with roommates. If you believe you have experienced discrimination, Nunavut's systems offer guidance and potential remedies.
How Discrimination Can Appear in Shared Rentals
- Being refused a room or apartment because of your ethnicity or family status
- Receiving unfair rental terms compared to other tenants
- Targeted or unequal treatment by housemates, if the landlord is involved
- Retaliation for asserting your rights
What to Do If You Experience Discrimination
If you feel you have been discriminated against in your search for a rental or during your tenancy, it’s important to document the situation and know the steps to protect yourself.
Filing a Complaint: Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal
The Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal is the official body that handles discrimination complaints. If the landlord is responsible for discriminatory actions (including in shared housing), you can file a complaint using the Tribunal’s official process.
- Form: Nunavut Human Rights Complaint Form (Download PDF)
- Use: Submit if you've been denied a rental, evicted, or treated unfairly because of a protected ground.
- Example: You contact a landlord about a roommate ad, but are told you can’t rent a room because you receive disability benefits. Fill out the form, describe what happened, and provide any evidence.
- How: Complete the form and email, mail, or deliver it to the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal (contact details provided on the form).
The process is confidential and does not require legal representation, although support is available.
Responsibilities in Roommate and Shared Living Settings
Discrimination is prohibited regardless of whether you rent an entire unit or just a room. Both landlords and fellow tenants must respect your rights if they have authority over your rental.
- Landlords can't select or remove tenants based on discriminatory reasons.
- House rules or roommate agreements can't override your legal protections.
If issues arise about deposits, payment, or shared responsibilities, it may help to review the Understanding Rental Deposits: What Tenants Need to Know and Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained for more information about your rights in these areas.
Relevant Tenant Legislation
For general tenancy matters (maintenance, eviction, deposits), Nunavut follows the Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act. For discrimination cases, the Nunavut Human Rights Act is the key law1.
For more information on your local rights and responsibilities, visit Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nunavut.
For those searching for new living arrangements in Nunavut or throughout Canada, you can Find rental homes across Canada on Houseme for an improved, accessible search experience.
- Is discrimination illegal in Nunavut's rental housing?
Yes. The Nunavut Human Rights Act makes it illegal to discriminate when renting housing based on protected grounds. - Can a landlord choose roommates based on "fit"?
While landlords or tenants may seek appropriate "fit," they cannot refuse applicants because of protected reasons like race, family status, or disability. - What should I do if I believe my landlord is discriminating?
Document the situation and submit a complaint to the Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal using their official form. - Do these rules apply in all shared housing?
Yes. Discrimination protections cover shared rentals, apartments, houses, and boarding arrangements. - Are there exceptions for small-scale roommate situations?
Very limited exceptions exist (for example, where the landlord also lives on-site and shares living quarters), but protections generally still apply. Contact the Tribunal for advice in unclear cases.
Need Help? Resources for Tenants
- Nunavut Human Rights Tribunal – For discrimination complaints and support.
- Nunavut Department of Family Services – Residential Tenancies info – For general housing and tenant rights.
- Legal Aid Nunavut – Contact your regional office for free support on tenant/human rights matters.
- Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Nunavut – More details on tenancy law and obligations.
1 Nunavut Human Rights Act (official government source)
2 Nunavut Residential Tenancies Act (Department of Family Services)
