I'm looking for an apartment and my landlord says he doesn’t rent to people on welfare. Is that legal?
No. It is against the Ontario Human Rights Code to discriminate against a person in respect of their housing simply because they receive social assistance.
If your landlord, anyone acting for your landlord, or anyone living in your building discriminates against you, they may be breaking an Ontario law called the Human Rights Code. Discrimination happens if someone treats you unfairly because:
- of your race or colour
- your birthplace or ethnic background
- your religion
- age
- sex
- disability
- marital status or sexual orientation
- you are pregnant or have children, or
- you receive social assistance or welfare (this applies only in housing).
This list shows many, but not all kinds of discrimination.
What you can do about discrimination
Like harassment, discrimination can sometimes be hard to prove. It is a good idea to keep notes about what has happened. Some cases of discrimination can be dealt with by the Landlord and Tenant Board. In other situations, you may have to take your case to the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario, or you may have to choose one or the other. It is usually best to get legal advice first. For general information on finding legal help visit: I need legal help, but have limited income and can't afford a lawyer. What can I do?
