Looking for a home to rent in Ontario? Understanding what details a landlord can and cannot request on your rental application is essential for protecting your privacy and your legal rights. This guide offers a clear overview of allowed questions, documents, and sensitive information rules for tenants in Ontario.

Information Landlords Are Allowed to Request

Ontario landlords need enough information to decide if you are a reliable tenant, but privacy laws and tenant protections limit the types of questions they can ask. Here’s what is typically allowed:

• Full name and contact information: Your legal name, phone number, and email address.
• Proof of identity: You may be asked for photo ID, but landlords should not keep copies of personal documents like driver’s licenses. Showing ID in person is common.
• Current and previous addresses: Where you live and your rental history.
• References: Contact information for past landlords or personal references.
• Proof of income: Examples include pay stubs, employment letters, or benefit statements, to show your ability to pay rent.
• Credit checks: Landlords may ask to do a credit check, but must get your written consent.

Landlords cannot use rental application questions to discriminate based on race, gender, age, disability, religion, family status, or other protected grounds under the Ontario Human Rights Code.^[1]

Information Landlords Cannot Ask For

There are important privacy protections in place. Landlords cannot ask for:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN) (although you may choose to provide it for a credit check, it is not required)
• Direct questions about marital status, sexuality, nationality, family planning, or religion
• Personal banking information (unless it is for direct rent payments and you consent)
• Immigration status (with certain exceptions and only as it relates to legal eligibility to rent)

These rules help ensure fair treatment and privacy for all rental applicants in Ontario. Tenant Rights in Ontario provide a more detailed overview of your protections under the law.

Rental Deposits: What is Allowed?

Ontario law only permits landlords to collect a rent deposit (usually for the last month's rent), not a security deposit or damage deposit. For more details on how rental deposits work and what you can expect when applying, see Understanding Rental Deposits: What Tenants Need to Know.

Consent Forms and Official Documents in Ontario

Most landlords use a written rental application form. To run a credit check, they must obtain your written consent. There is no government-mandated form for rental applications, but there are common practices:

• Written Rental Application: Used to gather your information and obtain your signed permission for background and credit checks.
• Credit Check Consent: Must be clearly requested and explained. You have the right to ask how your information will be used.

Once you reach the lease signing stage, you will be asked to sign the official Ontario Standard Lease form, also known as the Residential Tenancy Agreement (Form 2229E). You can view and download the Standard Lease form from the Ontario government. This form outlines both your and your landlord’s rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006.^[2]

Ontario’s Tribunal for Rental Issues

Rental housing disputes, such as privacy complaints or discrimination on a rental application, are handled by the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). The LTB enforces the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, which covers your rights regarding privacy, application information, and discrimination.

For comprehensive information on what changes after you’ve been accepted and sign your agreement, see our guide: What Tenants Need to Know After Signing the Rental Agreement.

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FAQs: Rental Application Information in Ontario

1. Can a landlord require my Social Insurance Number (SIN) to process my application?
   No. Landlords may request your SIN for a credit check, but you are not required to provide it. There are other ways to verify your creditworthiness.^[3]
2. What information should I never give to a landlord?
   You should never share passwords, banking logins, or personal identification for the landlord to keep. Only provide what is essential for your application and protect sensitive information.
3. How can I report a landlord who has asked illegal or discriminatory questions?
   If you suspect a landlord has violated your privacy or discriminated, you can file a complaint with the Ontario Human Rights Tribunal or apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for a remedy.
4. Are pet policies or criminal record checks allowed on applications?
   Landlords in Ontario may ask if you have pets (subject to local laws) but cannot reject applicants based solely on a criminal record unless it relates directly to tenancy.

Conclusion: What Tenants Should Remember

When applying for a rental in Ontario:

• Landlords can ask for information related to your ability to pay and tenancy history, but not for sensitive or discriminatory details.
• You can always ask why personal information is needed, and formal complaints can be made through official bodies if your rights are violated.
• Review Tenant Rights in Ontario for up-to-date coverage of your legal protections.

Knowing the law can help you protect your privacy and make confident decisions during the rental application process.

Need Help? Resources for Tenants

• Ontario Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) – For tenancy disputes and applications.
• Official Ontario Tenant Rights Guide – Guidance from the provincial government.
• Ontario Human Rights Code – Anti-discrimination protections for tenants.

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1. Ontario Human Rights Code, available at: Ontario Human Rights Code
2. Residential Tenancies Act, 2006, available at: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
3. Government of Ontario: Rental Application and Tenant Screening

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