Guideline for Tenant Screening in Ontario
3 min read.
For property owners and managers, the tenant screening process is a crucial step in ensuring the selection of reliable and responsible renters.
According to the Ontario Human Rights Commission’s policies on housing, the Ontario Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), and the Ontario Human Rights Code, you can only ask prospective tenants about:
Rental History
Permission to run credit checks and credit references
Their name, address, and date of birth (to conduct a credit check)
Information surrounding their passport, driver’s license, source of income, and expenses for the purpose of:
Obtaining a more detailed credit report
Ensuring the credit check is being done on the correct person
You cannot ask a prospective tenant about the following:
Their social insurance number
If they have ever been a part of a dispute that went to the Landlord and Tenant Board
If they are on social assistance
Their age, disabilities, religion, sexual orientation, place of origin, family status, or gender expression
The first step before screening potential tenants is to define the ideal candidate you’re looking for. This can be determined by asking you’re self the following questions:
How much money does the ideal tenant make?
What is their rental history? A consistent history of renting might be something you prefer.
A you looking for a long-term or short-term renter?
When do you want the tenant to move in?
Do employers and previous landlords speak highly of the tenant?
Would you allow a tenant with pets or not?
When creating the rental listing you can mark your criteria details to help avoid any potential tenant that doesn’t meet the criteria you’re looking for.
In addition to having a detailed listing, setting up a pre-screening process can aid in weaning out unwanted tenants. If a potential tenant inquires about further information on the listing, you can set up a phone call or send them a pre-screening questionnaire to help determine if they qualify. If they pass the pre-screening phase, you can invite them to an in-person viewing of the property. This is an opportunity to get to know a potential tenant better before providing them with an official application form.
Additionally, hiring a professional property manager can also perform a quality tenant screening process alongside the added benefits of hiring one. Alongside high-quality tenant screening, they can provide rent collection services, provide repair and maintenance services, answer any tenant questions, and more.
Effective tenant screening is essential for minimizing risks and ensuring that selected tenants will respect the property and fulfil their rental obligations. Ultimately, the goal is to create a safe and comfortable living experience for all parties involved.
References
Rhenti. (2024, May 2). The ultimate canadian tenant screening checklist. Rhenti. https://blog.rhenti.com/property-owner/canadian-tenant-screening-checklist
What are the legal guidelines for Tenant Screening in Ontario?. Royal York Property Management. (n.d.). https://royalyorkpropertymanagement.ca/news-article/what-are-the-legal-guidelines-for-tenant-screening-in-ontario
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