Can a landlord ask your age?

Age is a protected ground in Alberta rental housing, and "age" in the Human Rights Act means 18 or older. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you or set different terms because of your age. Seniors-only buildings, where every unit is reserved for people 55 and older, are allowed, and condo, co-op and mobile home site age minimums that existed before January 1, 2018 are allowed until they must convert by January 1, 2033.

The age of majority is 18. We found no rule on minors as tenants in the Residential Tenancies Act, so ask the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service if you are under 18 and unsure. If you think you were refused because of your age, contact the Alberta Human Rights Commission.

The Human Rights Code covers age in tenancy, but "age" there means 19 or older. A landlord cannot refuse you or set worse terms because of your age if you are 19 or over, though buildings where every unit is reserved for people 55 and older are allowed (the Code also mentions a prescribed class of premises, which we did not check). The privacy commissioner says a landlord may look at your government photo ID and, where your age is in doubt, ask for proof you are over 19.

The age of majority is 19. The Residential Tenancy Act says a person under 19 can enter a tenancy agreement and it can be enforced by and against them, but the privacy commissioner says a landlord can refuse to rent to a minor. Human rights complaints go to the BC Human Rights Tribunal.

Age is a protected ground in Manitoba, and the rental section of The Human Rights Code sets no minimum age and no general seniors or adults-only exception. The Manitoba Human Rights Commission says a plain "55+" or "adults only" building will be challenged to justify the restriction, though a seniors complex may justify an age limit by offering services specific to older adults.

The age of majority is 18. The Act is silent on minors, but the Residential Tenancies Branch says a minor can enter a tenancy agreement and be held to it. If you were refused because of your age, contact the Manitoba Human Rights Commission.

Age is a prohibited ground under the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, and "age" there means 18 or older. A landlord cannot refuse to rent to you or advertise "no children" or "adults only" because of age or family status. The Code does allow housing rented only to people 55 or older.

The age of majority is 18. The Residential Tenancies Act says a person under 18 may enter a tenancy agreement as a tenant, and the agreement is not unenforceable just because of their age. Contact the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission if you think you were refused because of your age.

Age is a protected ground for renting in Ontario, and "age" in the Human Rights Code means 18 or older. A 16 or 17 year old who has withdrawn from parental control is also protected for housing, and a lease they sign is enforceable as if they were 18. Preferential treatment for people 65 and over is allowed, such as seniors' discounts. The Code has no exception for adult-only buildings, and the Ontario Human Rights Commission says limiting a building to adults is family status discrimination.

The age of majority is 18. When choosing tenants, a landlord may use credit references, rental history and a credit check, with income information only alongside those items, and may require a guarantor. Age is not on that list.

Age is one of the prohibited grounds in New Brunswick's Human Rights Act, which bars denying the right to occupy a dwelling unit or discriminating in its terms on those grounds. The Human Rights Commission says seniors and young adults are both protected, and the Act's age protection does not apply to limits on a person under the age of majority that an Act or regulation requires or authorizes. We found no statutory exemption for adult-only or seniors-only buildings; a program approved by the Commission is not a violation.

The age of majority is 19. The Residential Tenancies Act does not mention minors, so ask the Tenant and Landlord Relations Office if you are under 19. The Commission also says questions about the ages of occupants should wait until after the unit is rented.

Age is a protected ground for accommodation under Nova Scotia's Human Rights Act, and we found no age range in the Act's definitions. We found no exception for adult-only or seniors buildings. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission lists a 55+ building without age-specific services as an example of discrimination, so ask the Commission before relying on a 55+ restriction.

The age of majority is 19. The Residential Tenancies Act, its regulations and the standard lease do not mention minors, so ask the Residential Tenancies Program if you are under 19.

Age is a protected ground under PEI's Human Rights Act, which bars denying occupancy of rental housing or setting discriminatory terms on those grounds. The Act does not define age, and we found no lower or upper limit. The Act says it does not prevent refusing accommodation, services or facilities on the basis of age where another provincial law makes them unavailable to that person. We found no exemption for adult-only or seniors' buildings.

The age of majority is 18, and the Residential Tenancy Act says a person under 18 may enter into a tenancy agreement. Complaints go to the PEI Human Rights Commission within one year.

Age is a prohibited ground under the Human Rights Act, 2010, and the Act bars refusing occupancy of a self-contained dwelling unit or setting discriminatory terms on those grounds. We found no age definition in the Act that limits who is covered. The housing age exception we found is a building where every unit is reserved for people 55 or older, or for households with at least one person 55 or older.

The age of majority is 19. We found no rule on minors as tenants in the Residential Tenancies Act, so ask the Residential Tenancies Office if you are under 19. Contact the Human Rights Commission if you think you were refused because of your age.