Try to get the landlord to follow the Human Rights Code

Ontario's Human Rights Code is the law that says landlords cannot discriminate against people who are trying to rent a place to live.

Landlords are not allowed to ask questions that could be used to discriminate against you. They are also not allowed to demand guarantors or Canadian references or use rent-to-income ratios in ways that discriminate against certain groups of people.

If the landlord is doing any of these things, you might be able to convince them to follow the Human Rights Code. You can try explaining the law to them, or getting someone to help you deal with them.

You could show the landlord information about the Human Rights Code. The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has information written for landlords. The Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) has many publications that explain the law about different types of discrimination in housing.

It might help to get someone to contact the landlord on your behalf. A community legal clinic or the Human Rights Legal Support Centre (HRLSC) might be able to do this.

Keep copies of your rental application and any communications you have with the landlord. Make notes about your conversations with the landlord and anything else that happens.

Ask a friend or someone else to go with you when you meet or speak with the landlord. That person can be a witness to what happened or what was said.

If you still want that landlord to rent the place to you, you should take action as soon as possible, preferably before they rent it to someone else.