Human Rights Protections Against Rental Discrimination

Renting a home should be based on fair and equal treatment, but discrimination can affect a tenant's ability to find housing, keep a rental, or enjoy their home. In Saskatchewan, renters are protected by human rights rules that prohibit discrimination in housing based on protected characteristics such as disability, race, ancestry, religion, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, family status, and receipt of public assistance. This guide explains what rental discrimination may look like, how accommodation works, what evidence to preserve, and where to seek help. It also outlines practical steps for making a complaint while continuing to follow your tenancy responsibilities and responding to rental notices on time.

Understanding rental discrimination in Saskatchewan

Rental discrimination occurs when a landlord, property manager, or housing provider treats a person unfairly because of a protected characteristic. The protection can apply during advertising, inquiries, applications, selection, rent-related decisions, repairs, access to services, and termination of a tenancy. The Saskatchewan Human Rights Code is the main provincial law addressing these rights.

Discrimination can be direct, such as refusing to rent to someone because they have children. It can also be indirect, such as applying a rule that creates a serious barrier for a tenant with a disability when a reasonable accommodation could be made. A landlord may still assess lawful rental criteria, but those criteria should be applied consistently and not used as a pretext for unequal treatment.

Examples of prohibited rental discrimination

• Refusing an application or showing a unit because of race, ancestry, place of origin, religion, age, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or family status.
• Advertising a rental with wording that excludes people based on a protected characteristic.
• Refusing a reasonable accessibility-related change or imposing an unnecessary barrier to entering or using the home.
• Charging a different rent, deposit, or fee because of a protected characteristic.
• Threatening eviction, reducing services, or treating a tenant negatively after they raise a human rights concern.

Not every disagreement with a landlord is discrimination. A rent dispute, repair problem, or eviction issue may instead fall under Saskatchewan's residential tenancy process. Some situations can involve both tenancy law and human rights law, so identify the specific conduct, the protected characteristic involved, and the effect on you.

Protected characteristics and accommodation

Accommodation means making a reasonable adjustment so a person can access housing without facing a barrier connected to a protected characteristic. Examples may include allowing an assistance animal despite a no-pets rule, arranging accessible communication, permitting a support person, or considering a disability-related request about how information is provided.

A tenant requesting accommodation should explain the barrier and the change needed. You generally do not need to disclose every detail of a medical condition. However, a landlord may reasonably ask for information that confirms the limitation and the connection between the limitation and the requested accommodation.

Accommodation is a shared process. A landlord should respond seriously and discuss workable options, while a tenant should provide relevant information and cooperate with reasonable alternatives. The goal is not necessarily the tenant's preferred option, but an effective solution that respects the tenant's rights without causing undue hardship.

Discrimination during the rental application process

Keep records of advertisements, emails, text messages, application instructions, and statements made during viewings. If an available unit is suddenly unavailable after you disclose a protected characteristic, or if different requirements are applied to you than to other applicants, record the dates and details. You can also Browse apartments for rent in Canada to compare publicly posted rental information, but an online listing alone does not prove discrimination.

Do not provide more personal information than is reasonably necessary for a rental application. Ask what information is being collected, why it is needed, and how the landlord will use it. A tenant can also compare the treatment received by different applicants, provided this is done lawfully and without accessing private information.

What to do if you believe you were discriminated against

1. Record the date, location, people involved, words used, and decision that you believe was discriminatory.
2. Save advertisements, applications, emails, messages, notices, photographs, receipts, and other evidence.
3. Ask the landlord or property manager for an explanation and, where appropriate, request accommodation in writing.
4. Contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission to discuss whether the issue may fall under the Code.
5. File a human rights complaint if appropriate, while continuing to meet rent, notice, and other tenancy obligations.

The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission can provide information about the complaint process. Its complaint service is separate from the Office of Residential Tenancies, which handles many disputes about rent, possession, repairs, deposits, and other residential tenancy matters. For a broader overview of provincial rules, see Tenant Rights and Landlord Rights in Saskatchewan.

Official forms and where to file

Use the current official form or online process rather than relying on an old copy. The form name may change as government services are updated.

• Human rights complaint form: The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission's complaint process is used when you believe a person or organization breached your rights under the Code. For example, a tenant who was refused a unit after requesting an assistance animal can describe the refusal, identify the housing provider, and provide supporting records through the Commission's current complaint instructions.
• Tenant application for a hearing: The Office of Residential Tenancies' current forms and online services are used for tenancy disputes, such as a landlord failing to return a deposit or provide required repairs. A tenant should select the current application or dispute form identified on the official forms page and attach relevant documents.

There is no single form that resolves every housing problem. A human rights complaint is generally used for discrimination under the Code, while a residential tenancy application is used for disputes assigned to the Office of Residential Tenancies. A tenant may need to consider both processes when the same events involve discrimination and a tenancy remedy.

Protecting yourself from retaliation

Retaliation can include threats, harassment, a sudden negative change in treatment, or an attempt to end a tenancy because a tenant asserted a legal right. Keep communicating calmly and in writing where possible. Continue paying rent and following lawful tenancy requirements unless an official decision or legal advice tells you otherwise.

If you receive a notice to end the tenancy, an application, or a hearing date, do not ignore it. Check the deadline, preserve the envelope or delivery record, and seek help promptly. You can also review Obligations of Landlords and Tenants: Rights and Responsibilities Explained for general information about each party's responsibilities.

FAQ

Can a landlord in Saskatchewan refuse to rent to me because I have children?

A landlord generally cannot refuse housing because of family status when that reason is protected by the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, although lawful housing rules and limited exceptions may apply.

What evidence should I keep for a rental discrimination complaint?

Keep advertisements, applications, messages, emails, notices, witness details, photographs, and a dated record of what happened and how it affected your housing.

Where can Saskatchewan tenants report discrimination?

Contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission for information about a human rights complaint, and contact the Office of Residential Tenancies for disputes within the residential tenancy process.

Can I make a human rights complaint and a tenancy application?

Possibly, because the two processes address different legal issues, but you should obtain process-specific guidance and avoid missing any applicable deadlines.

How-To

1. Write down the facts, dates, people involved, and housing decision.
2. Collect messages, advertisements, forms, photographs, and other evidence.
3. Submit a written accommodation request or ask the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission about its complaint process.
4. Attend any scheduled hearing and bring organized copies of your records.

Help and Support / Resources

• Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission complaints
• Office of Residential Tenancies
• Saskatchewan renter rights and responsibilities information

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1. [1] Saskatchewan Human Rights Code
2. [2] Saskatchewan Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
3. [3] Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission housing rights information