Can a landlord refuse a tenant on benefits?

No. Alberta's Human Rights Act protects source of income in renting. The Alberta Human Rights Commission says this means lawful income that carries a social stigma, such as social assistance, AISH or other disability benefits and income supplements for seniors, but not employment wages. It gives refusing an applicant after learning they receive income supports, rental subsidies (including from a Band or Métis Settlement or the Transition to Adulthood Program) or disability benefits as an example of discrimination, and lists screening with a rent-to-income ratio as another.

Alberta's privacy commissioner says a landlord may ask for reasonable proof that you can pay the rent, and references from other landlords only with your consent. Complaints go to the Commission within one year.

No. BC's Human Rights Code protects lawful source of income in renting. BC's Human Rights Commissioner says a landlord cannot decide on an application based on where the renter gets their money, as long as it is legal, and names social assistance and disability benefits as examples. Turning down a renter on disability assistance to avoid filling out forms is discrimination.

BC's privacy commissioner says it may be reasonable for a landlord to ask for proof of income or employment if you cannot give adequate references. Complaints go to the BC Human Rights Tribunal, not the Residential Tenancy Branch.

No. Manitoba's Human Rights Code protects source of income, and the Manitoba Human Rights Commission says it is illegal for a landlord, rental agent or a tenant who sublets to refuse someone because of it, for example because they receive income assistance. Refusing someone only because they receive disability benefits may also be discrimination. Chronic low income can count under social disadvantage, but only where the treatment rests on a negative bias or stereotype.

A landlord may screen for ability to pay, income stability and suitability, and may ask about your employer, position and salary, but must assess each applicant individually. The Commission says you should be able to list income from all sources and offer a guarantor or co-signer, and that an ad asking for three months' rent as a deposit may shut out people on social assistance.

Not if you receive public assistance. Saskatchewan's Human Rights Code protects receipt of public assistance, which it defines narrowly: assistance under The Saskatchewan Assistance Act and benefits under The Saskatchewan Income Plan Act. Other income sources are not a listed ground. The Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission says an ad cannot say the landlord will only rent to people who are working, because that would shut out many people on public assistance.

The Commission also says a lack of rental or credit history should not be treated like a bad report. Under the Residential Tenancies Act, a security deposit guarantee from the minister responsible for The Saskatchewan Assistance Act counts as paying the deposit.

Not if you receive public assistance. Ontario's Human Rights Code protects receipt of public assistance, such as social assistance, but not source of income in general. The Ontario Human Rights Commission notes that many people with low incomes, such as people earning low wages, are not covered by that ground, though minimum income rules and rent-to-income cut-offs can still be discriminatory. It says a cut-off such as 30% of income is illegal, and gives an ad saying a unit "suits a working person" as an example of discrimination.

A landlord can ask for income information only if they also ask for credit references, rental history and permission for a credit check, and must weigh them together. The Commission says a lack of rental or credit history should not count against you, and a landlord can require a guarantor only if every tenant must have one.

No. New Brunswick's Human Rights Act protects social condition, which includes source of income, occupation and level of education. The New Brunswick Human Rights Commission describes a case where a building manager told an applicant on social assistance there were no units for "people like you", and it was held to be discrimination based on source of income and disability. The Commission lists requiring a permanent job, a minimum income or a minimum time with an employer as discriminatory, and says rent-to-income ratios discriminate against young persons, low-income individuals and families, and other vulnerable groups.

A landlord may ask for income information, rental history, credit checks or guarantees, but not to exclude protected groups. A guarantor can be justified in certain cases, but not if it is required only to shut out people because of a protected ground.

No. Nova Scotia's Human Rights Act protects source of income in renting. The Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission gives refusing a renter whose income is Income Assistance, a student loan, Employment Insurance or other benefits as an example of discrimination. It also says renting to someone but making them pay rent in advance or a bigger deposit because of a protected characteristic is illegal.

Complaints go to the Commission within 12 months. The Act also bars a landlord from evicting or punishing you for making a complaint.

No. PEI's Human Rights Act protects source of income in renting. The PEI Human Rights Commission says the ground is about where your income comes from, not how much it is, and that being refused accommodation because your main source of income is Financial Assistance is not allowed.

The Act also bars a landlord from evicting you for making a complaint. Complaints go to the Commission within one year.

Not if you receive income support. Newfoundland and Labrador's Human Rights Act protects source of income, but defines it only as income or employment support under the Income and Employment Support Act. The Human Rights Commission says a landlord should not discriminate because they disapprove of where your income comes from, such as Government Income Support or social assistance, and that an ad "looking for working people" could discriminate against people who cannot work because of a disability or who have retired.

The Act lets landlords use income information, credit checks, references, rental history and guarantees. The Commission says income information should be used only to check that you can pay, a lack of credit history alone should not be a reason to refuse, and a co-signer can be asked for because of poor references, bad credit or a history of default, but not because of a protected ground.